Here’s what we’ve been up to this week:

This week was good, busy for more reasons than you can probably believe, but in the end it was a pretty good week. Unfortunately, early in the week we learned of the death of a close family friend and were able to travel to the funeral over the weekend. Because the family friend was on my husband’s side of the family and a long funeral service is not conducive to two small toddlers, I stayed home and sent my husband to the funeral with his family. The service was nice and I’m glad we live close enough to have been able to attend.

What traveling over the weekend meant for me, besides seeing family and taking care of the kiddos (normal), was that I had to host the Got Books? Event via lap top at my in-laws home. Whoa. A little bit of a challenge, but all in all I feel it went really well. We had around 100 sites participating and a very successful Twitter Party on Friday. It’s definitely an event I can’t wait to do again!

So, how was your week?

Read/Reviewed (Just click on the title to see the Review!):
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Nice and Mean by Jessica Leader
Boys Lie: How Not to Get Played by Belisa Vranich, Psy.D. and Holly Eagleson
The Starlet by Mary McNamara (For Chick Lit Reviews – Review Coming Soon!)
In Mike We Trust by P.E. Ryan (Review Coming Tuesday for Nerds Heart YA Decision!)
Alligator Bayou by Donna Jo Napoli (Review Coming Tuesday for Nerds Heart YA Decision!)

Interviewed:
When I Was Young: Stiletto Storytime

Events:
Got Books? Event – Our Favorite Bookish Things Giveaway

A Bit of Me(Me) – My Very Best Talent

Giveaways:
“Despicable Me” Book Review & Giveaway (Ends 7/30)

What’s up for the week to come:

Reviewing/Reading:
Bubba Goes National by Jennifer Walker
Arson by Estevan Vega
Lit by Mary Karr (For Chick Lit Reviews)
Waxed by Robert Rave (For Chick Lit Reviews)
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Events:
Once Upon A Week.. (Coming Soon!)

The Turkeybird and Littlebug are Reading: (Yep, you read this list right, same books for the kiddos! They truly are still stuck on these, it’s great!)
Bob Books Sight Words: Kindergarten
Robot Zot by John Sciezska and Illustrated by David Shannon
Every Friday by Dan Yaccarino
Time to Sleep, Sheep the Sheep by Mo Willems
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach by Melanie Watt
Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss

Giveaways Coming Up:
Bob Books Sight Words: Kindergarten and Bob Books Sight Words: First Grade (Coming Aug.10th!)

So, what are you reading this week? Have any suggestions I should add to my reading pile?

Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with IndieBound.

©2010 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.

Blog Name: Stiletto Storytime

When did you start your blog and why? Give us a little info about your blog too.

I started my blog in December of 2007. I was in my first year as a children’s librarian. It was great platform for me to review books, talk about library related subjects and even express opinions on other topics of personal interest. I read so much back then to be acquainted with my collection that it seemed a shame not to review and keep track of what I was doing. And so my blog was born and bred at the children’s reference desk of a public library.

My blog is called Stiletto Storytime, which may seem a little odd but as always there is a story behind it. I graduated from library school at the age of 25, I didn’t exactly fit the profile of what people expected of a “librarian”. I was young and refused to act old before my time. I was innovative and always trying a fresh approach to old school library practices. Instead of clogs, I still dressed in stilettos and heels. I did storytime, dancing and shaking my sillies out dressed to the nines. My colleagues all joked I should have a “Stiletto Storytime” since I was always creating new themes and dressing fashionable. From then on…the name stuck! Stiletto Storytime is a blog devoted to helping readers find that perfect book! I review everything from board books to classic literature. There is also a large amount of Jane Austen related material since I am a devoted Janeite.

Tell us a little about yourself outside of your interest in books.

I am a twenty something wife and mother to a one year old son. Little man and his Daddy are my world. We also have a dog Zoe who is a cocker/westie mix that rounds out our family. I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Masters in Library Science. I am now a SAHM and am working on my first book, which is the first in a middle grade series for girls. I am a southerner born and bred. I love to read more than anything and carry a book everywhere I go. Reading is my escape from the busy world around me. When I pick up a book all my stress and worries float away and it is simply the story and I.

Your favorite book from your youth and the story behind it.

One of my favorite books as a child was The Chimney Witches by Victoria Whitehead. It was this magical book about a girl who finds a way into the world of witches through her chimney. In fact it had a lot in common with Harry Potter in some ways now that I think about it. I have no idea where that book came from. The author was British and I remember the cover was solid blue with gold lettering. I so loved that book though and the idea of going to another world. I also loved The Little House on the Prairie series, Anne of Green Gables and oddly enough I was obsessed with R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series. By fifth grade I had every one lined up in perfect order on my bookshelves. I wish I had kept them. I now collect them and am always on the hunt for a new one at yard sales or library book sales. In all honesty as a child I was such a voracious reader, I read anything and everything I could get my  on. I just loved and still love books!

“Courtney is fabulous! I just love her to pieces and her site always has something I’m interested in reading. I’ve been reading her site for some time now, but I think I really caught on during the last Dewey’s Read-a-Thon when she read through an entire stack of Charlaine Harris Sookie books. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a huge fan. Not to mention she also loves Sarah Addison Allen (another favorite), she loves children’s books and she’s a mom!

“Stiletto Storytime absolutely has something for everyone and if you haven’t stopped by yet, what are you waiting for? A must read for book lovers!

“Thank you so much, Courtney, for visiting There’s A Book today!”

©2010 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.

This fabulous weekly recap is hosted by Shelia of One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we recap what we’ve read and look at what’s coming up this week. If you’re interested head over to Shelia’s site and get involved! It’s a blast and I may even stop by to see what you’re up to!

Here’s what we’ve been up to this week:

This has been a great week! I’ve been able to read a ton and reviewed quite a bit as well. My sweet Turkeybird made the cover of The Book Chook Cook Book! (Say that ten times fast!) We’ve also been gearing up for the Got Books? Event that’s happening on Friday and Saturday this week! Both Gina and I are tremendously excited for the incredible response we’ve had for it, we’re now at 104 blogs participating! Make sure to stop by because I’ve got a fabulous giveaway planned here (Hunger Games fans especially may want to make a mental note about it!) and stop by the main site to find more great book blogs!

I also have to brag a bit because I was finally able to figure out the coding for a table on my “Links” page! I am so excited about this! In fact I think I could go look at it again!

Last, are you a Harry Potter fan? Take a look at the post from this week, you’ll definitely get a chuckle out of it! Have a fabulous reading week!

Read/Reviewed (Just click on the title to see the Review!):
Bogus by Karla Oceanak and Illustrated by Kendra Spanjer
Good-Bye to All That by Margo Candela (For Chick Lit Reviews)
Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook (For Chick Lit Reviews – Monday)
Toy Boat by Randall DeSeve and Illustrated by Loren Long
If You Give A Pig A Pancake by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond
Nice and Mean by Jessica Leader (Review coming Tuesday!)

Interviewed:
Tina Turbin Author of Danny the Dragon
When I Was Young: SMS Book Reviews

Events & Fun Things:
Coming This Week! – Got Books?
Once Upon A Week.. (Coming Soon!)
Harry Potter – The Gateway Drug
The Turkeybird Makes the Front Page!
A Bit of Me(Me) – Your Favorite Smell

Giveaways:
“Despicable Me” Book Review & Giveaway (Ends 7/30)

What’s up for the week to come:

Reading/Reviewing:
Bubba Goes National by Jennifer Walker
In Mike We Trust by P.E. Ryan
Alligator Bayou by Donna Jo Napoli
Boys Lie: How Not to Get Played by Belisa Vranich, Psy.D. and Holly Eagleson
The Starlet by Mary McNamara (For Chick Lit Reviews)

The Turkeybird and Littlebug are Reading:
Robot Zot by John Sciezska and Illustrated by David Shannon
Every Friday by Dan Yaccarino
Time to Sleep, Sheep the Sheep by Mo Willems
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach by Melanie Watt
Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss

Giveaways Coming Up:
Got Books? Event…a very special giveaway and event you won’t want to miss! (July 23 & 24) This week!!!

So, what are you reading this week? Have any suggestions I should add to my reading pile?

Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with IndieBound.

©2010 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.

Published by Philomel Books (An imprint of Penguin)

Pages: 40

Ages: 2 and up

Publishers Summary: A little boy has a toy boat. He made it out of a can, a cork, a yellow pencil, and some white cloth. The boy and his boat are inseparable, until one day when the wind pushes the toy boat out into the wide lake. Alone now, the little boat must face fierce waves, a grumpy ferry, a sassy schooner, and a growling speed boat. How the little boat misses the boy! But if he is going to survive, he must figure a way to do it on his own.

Loren Long has a timeless and magical touch. As he did with The Little Engine That Could, he creates a world of toys and children that go right to the soul. Toy Boat will sail into young hearts and stay there.

The Turkeybird Speaks: “This is an amazing book! The boat in here steals the show for sure. Not to mention all of the other big boats he runs into! It’s incredible! He gets taken out into the ocean and thrown around in a storm, then almost run over by a huge boat! Whoa!

“The only part I don’t like is when the boat gets sad because he’s not with his little boy anymore. It’s just so sad. I know if he were my boat I would be sad and would want him to come back home. But it gets better! The boat makes it home and the little boy is so so happy to see him! I could read this book over and over again, thank goodness my mom likes it so much!”

Mom’s Two Cents: “Not too long ago I wrote a post titled, Parents vs. Children: When We Love Books Our Kids Don’t. It was all about me venting that my tastes and the tastes of Turkeybird and Littlebug were sometimes very very different. Toy Boat made the list of books I loved that Turkeybird did not. Well, the day has finally come that he is loving this wonderful book and I couldn’t be happier! Not that I don’t enjoy reading pretty much anything to him, but it’s so nice when you both love a book.

“Everything about this book is delightful. Initially I picked up Toy Boat because I’m a bit of an illustration snob and Loren Long is one of my absolute favorites. If you don’t agree, I’d hope to persuade you to take a look at her website. Everything she illustrates is gorgeous. Besides the illustrations, I was drawn to the little boy, so much like my own. So often in his own little world with just a few favorite toys and books keeping him constantly thinking.

“Toy Boat though is not so much about the little boy, but the boat itself. His adventure away from the boy and into the unknown is so similar to the life we all experience at some point. He travels, at first excited at the wonderment before him, but soon longs for the boy he left behind. With sudden hopelessness engulfing him the boat is met by another friendly, but bigger boat who gently guides him back to the boy he loves. And the boy…is there on the beach eagerly awaiting the toy boat’s return.

“This is a story I hope to share with both Turkeybird and Littlebug for some time. It’s exciting to be able to share a story that means so much to me with Turkeybird now and see his excitement as we read along together. Toy Boat has so much meaning to be gained and I know as they both grow, the meaning will change for each of them. But for now, I’m happy to share the excitement of the little boy as his boat returns from his big adventure across the sea!”

Please take a look at the illustrator’s website, Loren Long children’s book gallery, for some amazing sketch to finished image comparisons. You will be astounded at how beautiful they are!

Some other Randall and Peter DeSeve books you might enjoy!
(There’s at least one of these I think a certain Whimsical blogger might just adore!)

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 3 and up. Wonderful illustrations, a fantastic adventure and a touching meaning make this a perfect book for kiddos to “grow” into.

For the Comments: How do illustrations affect your buying decisions when it comes to children’s books? Make or break?

This book was purchased for our home library.
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with IndieBound.

©2010 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.

How did I become a children’s author or what inspires me? Since those seem to be the most popular questions I thought I’d just dive right in and share a bit about me as well as what does inspire me, where I get my ideas and what keeps this incredible drive in me, being an author.

First of all, my favorite stuffed animal was Pooh Bear and I adored many books about Winnie-the Pooh, created originally by author, A.A Milnie. I felt so bad that Pooh Bear ate so much honey and could not get out of the Rabbit’s front door. I loved the interaction of all the characters and involvement with a little boy, Christopher Robin. I read these books over and over and later even to my three children.

I was about 6-7 and 8 when I read Swedish Author Astrid Lindgren’s, “Pippi Longstocking”, and Beverly Cleary’s adorable Ramona books. I adored the characters and would climb inside the book and feel what it was like to “be” one or more of the characters. It was then that I realized what it was like to create character’s on paper, and realized “this is the role of an author!” I recognized the power and influence the author really had over the reader.

I was about 9 when I read the fabulous book, “Charlotte’s Web” by one of my favorite children’s author’s, E.B White. I can not tell you how many times I read this book. Of course I knew the ending after the first reading, but each time I read it, it had this power over me and I’d be sad it was over with tears in my eyes about Charlotte. Again, through this book I fell in love with the idea of animals talking; have emotions, interacting with humans. This is how I felt the real world was anyhow! I had my own horse, hamsters and rats and I talked to then and they talked to me.

I was an extremely independent child until my brother was born when I was 18, but by then at age 16 I wrote my first children’s story which was well accepted by a school I had submitted it to, not letting them know my age. Whether they liked it or not, it was at its final draft that I knew I had a love for writing. I did not have all the tools and knowledge of what to do with a story once written. They loved it though!

I knew that life all around me was always presenting ideas. I knew that any and all events, people in my environment, movies I saw, books I read, children – everything inspired me to creatively come up with my very own ideas to convey my own stores. I knew I wanted people to read what I wrote and change little or great, but for the better, to be entertained and feel “something” through my written concepts. I felt alive and in love with this passion.

I married early and with the birth of my son I fell in love again- with motherhood. I set my goals aside knowing that I’d pick this up again, when I had more time, more uninterrupted time and much better sleep. I had three children; a thriving business working in the Entertainment Business helping children in Hollywood with their careers and over the many years took notes for the coming days- my days to be a writer.

My first book was the Show Biz Kids East Coast Guidebook. Then I started researching children’s book writing and released Danny the Dragon, then the audio-book Danny DREAMS and then the DVD. Now it will be available as apps through iStory (the same company with exclusive rights to Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks) and will be out in August.

I have not stopped since. I love what I do and I am constantly inspired by the wonderful world and people around me, my past, my ideas, communication of others and of course – all the children everywhere.

Tina Turbin

Thank you again Tina for stopping by There’s A Book and sharing a bit about your journey!

Make sure to take a look at my review of Tina’s book, Danny the Dragon and for more information about Tina and her work with Celiac Disease take a look at these sites:
Tina Turbin’s Site
Gluten Free Help
Danny the Dragon

©2010 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.