Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - 32 minutes ago
Long time readers of my blog will know that I have always been drawn to books about human suffering and social injustice.  While they are books that break my heart, bring me to tears, make me mad, an...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Dec 4, 2009, 12:01 pm
I hope that everybody had a great Thanksgiving holiday if you are here in the states!  I had a fantastic time sluffing all of my blog responsibilities and not posting a thing!  (That’s not to ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 25, 2009, 10:38 am
Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Krull and illustrated by Timothy Ladwig is a lovely new book on the importance of prayer and gratitude for our blessing.  Although saying grace or b...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 24, 2009, 10:12 am
Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué Rico! Americas’ Sproutings is a fantastic collection of haiku by Pat Mora accompanied by illustrations from Rafael López. Have you ever thought about where some of your fav...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 24, 2009, 10:04 am
My father-in-law has often joked (but totally serious) that Spanish is the language that we speak in heaven.  He loves the language.   He’s fluent in Spanish and uses it on a daily basis in hi...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 23, 2009, 3:05 am
I’m excited today to have amazing author Bonny Becker guest posting on my blog. If you don’t know Becker from her adorable new book A Birthday for Bear or from the cute A Visitor for Bear...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 23, 2009, 2:58 am
When I last  reviewed A Visitor for Bear and interviewed the author, I was ecstatic to know that there were more books about Bear and Mouse in the works and A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker and il...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 20, 2009, 10:51 am
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is the perfect realistic fiction book with a fantasy twist.  It’s a mystery too.  As well as a coming of age, friendship book.  In fact, When You Reach Me d...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 16, 2009, 2:49 am
Well, if you are a regular reader around here you will notice the increased number of book reviews for picture books the last couple of weeks.  If you don’t recall, I’m currently serving ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 15, 2009, 11:36 am
The New York Times Bestseller List November 15, 2009 Hardcover Fiction FORD COUNTY, by John Grisham. Stories set in rural Mississippi. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. Robert Langdon among the Masons...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 14, 2009, 1:18 am
Okay folks.  Surely you’ve seen this book around haven’t you?  Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld.  I’d seen the cover before but had never taken the time t...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 12, 2009, 7:18 pm
My boys LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.  The Book That Eats People by John Perry and illustrated by Mark Fearing is the book that they have been picking out of my huge stack of picture books all week.  We...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 12, 2009, 1:10 am
I really want to share A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis with you.  It’s so fun.  Great story, great design, great color.  It was so much fun to read.  But how can I even begin to review ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 11, 2009, 4:26 pm
I’m thrilled to interview Jean Reagan, a local Utah author whom I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with in person a couple of times.  I swear if I make it up to the Teton National Park I m...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 11, 2009, 10:36 am
Always My Brother by Jean Reagan and illustrated by Phyllis Pollema-Cahill is a very touching book and fills a need for books written for grieving children.  In this lovingly written story, Becky and...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 10, 2009, 2:19 am
You wouldn’t know it from reading my blog but I used to pick up the occasional motivational book.  Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport by Jason Barger has t...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 9, 2009, 6:56 pm
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown had me in love as soon as I laid my eyes on it.   See, my other love is gardening.  If I wasn’t blogging about books than I probably would be blogging about g...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 7, 2009, 10:24 am
What is it like to experience colors if you are blind?  This is the question that The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria asks and attempts to answer.  This book of colors is lack...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 6, 2009, 1:03 am
In Standing Still by Kelly Simmons, Claire trades in the life of a journalist for that of a stay-at-home mom.  Late one night Claire hears a noise on the roof, goes upstairs and discovers an intruder...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 5, 2009, 2:31 am
In The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinksi June Parker attends a Weight Watchers meeting that will change her life – but not how you would think.  She gives a ride home to Marissa whom she&...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 4, 2009, 10:24 am
How can I not love All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon when it’s illustrated by Marla Frazee? I adore Frazee.  And All the World is no exception.  How does Frazee do it?  I discovered Frazee...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 3, 2009, 1:11 am
So a few discussion questions for you readers out there because that’s why you’re here right?  Because you love to read.  Have you always read?  Have you read since before you could rem...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 2, 2009, 1:07 am
Halloween has been a month long event here at our house.  We got dressed in our costumes no less than a billion times and attended at least half a dozen parties as well as hosting one for all of my l...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 30, 2009, 1:56 am
I picked up Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty at the library because I couldn’t resist that adorable cover.  Brought it home to discover that it’s a Cybils nominee.  Score! Poor s...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 29, 2009, 1:44 am
Goodnight Goon, A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex is a parody off of Goodnight Moon which I  must admit we don’t have in this household nor is it a book that my kids are familiar with.  In fa...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 27, 2009, 12:17 pm
My boys can not get enough of Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems which we’ve been reading in anticipation for Halloween although I would stress that although great for Halloween with it...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 26, 2009, 12:56 am
I am SO buying Where’s My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by John Manders.  I’m going to be really sad to see it returned to the library because my boys and I have been reading thi...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 24, 2009, 4:50 pm
Today is the 24-Hour Read-a-thon and while I was unable to participate, I hope everybody who is currently reading  their hearts out are having a great time!!  Last read-a-thon, I featured two author...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 23, 2009, 1:55 pm
My boys LOVED A Very Hairy Scary Story by Rick Walton and illustrated by David Clark.  As soon as we finished reading it they wanted to read it again.  Over and over.   I think we read it at least...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 22, 2009, 1:04 am
Better late than never right?  Welcome to the Bookworms Carnival where today you will get a great list of recommendations of picture books, middle grade fiction, young adult and adult fiction and non...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 22, 2009, 12:18 am
Dear Vampa by Ross Collins is such a cute Halloween book although I admit that I didn’t think so on first impressions from thumbing through it.  Once I sat down and read it, I thought it was fu...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 20, 2009, 6:00 am
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis has one of the strangest main characters I’ve ever read.  Mazzy is just so quirky.  No doubt about it.  To tell you the truth, it’s been months since...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 19, 2009, 9:58 am
In Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal, the home of thirteen-year-old Pinky is full of secrets.  Having lost her mother in infancy and given up by her father, Pinky lives with her aunt and uncle and th...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 18, 2009, 11:42 pm
The New York Times Bestseller List October 18, 2009 Hardcover Fiction THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. Robert Langdon among the Masons. A TOUCH OF DEAD, by Charlaine Harris. The complete Sookie Stack...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 16, 2009, 6:22 am
I had no idea what Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman was about when I put it on hold at the library.  It was chosen for my Children’s Literature Book Club (we were reading all Beehive Aw...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 15, 2009, 10:36 am
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo is in the same magical vein as The Tale of Despereaux. Although the book doesn’t start out with the words “Once Upon a Time,” it certa...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 14, 2009, 11:25 am
The National Book Award finalists were announced today. Fiction Bonnie Jo Campbell, American Salvage (Wayne State University Press) Colum McCann, Let the Great World Spin (Random House) Daniyal Muee...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 14, 2009, 6:06 am
Loved this book. Loved it. Read on . . . One of my favorite types of books to read are books that take place around World War II and the Holocaust.  There will never be a drought of stories to tel...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 13, 2009, 11:53 am
I picked up a copy of  Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines when I was at Book Expo America in New York City earlier in the summer.  I must admit that I was intrigued with the book but I was afraid it w...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 12, 2009, 6:05 am
Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman is the follow up book to Skeleton Creek.  I love this series because of it’s creativity .  If you are not familiar with Skeleton Creek (which you can che...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 12, 2009, 6:00 am
How could I resist a book like Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin with a cover like that?  As soon as I saw this book on display at my local library I snatched it right up.  Didn’t ev...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 11, 2009, 11:00 pm
Sorry for not featuring this list for the past couple of months.  I think I got a bit burned out with it.  But I have heard from many of you that you appreciate this posting each week.  So it’...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 10, 2009, 1:40 pm
What are you doing two weeks from today?  Saturday, October 24th? May I suggest . . . THE 24-HOUR READ-A-THON!!! Regardless of whether or not you’re a blogger or not, the 24 Hour Read-a-Thon ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 9, 2009, 1:24 pm
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr is Sara’s best book yet. 15-year-old Sam has always been defined as the pastor’s daughter.  But not all is well behind closed doors.  Citing the pressures of ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 8, 2009, 11:47 am
Herta Muller, a German, has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature for “who, with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed”...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 7, 2009, 3:07 pm
Chess Rumble by G. Neri and illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson is one of those books that I hope people don’t judge based on the cover.  I don’t think it’s the best representation o...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 5, 2009, 2:50 am
Last year I reviewed The Sudan Project: Rebuilding with the People of Darfur and interviewed the author Melissa Leembruggen.  Melissa has a new book that also benefits Africa and that’s the pic...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 5, 2009, 2:47 am
What in the world is a behemoth?  From Job 40:15 in the Bible, “Look at the land beast, Behemoth.  I created him as well as you . . . “  In addition to an animal being described in the ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 4, 2009, 1:23 pm
Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry is the 1940 Newbery Medal winner.  Set in the Polynesian Islands before the traders and missionaries first came to the South Seas, it is the story of Mafatu who is...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 1, 2009, 12:52 am
The Cybils!  The Cybils!  They are here!  They are here! (I keep hearing Dr. Suess in my head when I say that). The Cybils are simply awesome.  What can I say.  The Cybils Awards are given each ...
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