Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jul 20, 2011, 2:02 am
I remember Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott being a good book.  Sadly, it has fallen ill to the passage of time.  I read it much too long ago and I simply can not remember anything about it.  And that my friends is a very sad thing because Elizabeth Scott rocks.  I have no hesitatio...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - May 1, 2011, 8:34 pm
I am so excited to be sharing book reviews, guest posts and interviews all month long from my awesome local Utah authors! But I’m not alone, Utah has a huge community of book bloggers and you’ll find many of them joining me as well.  In addition to tweeting out links, at the end of each week, I...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Apr 5, 2011, 10:41 pm
The announcement is a long time coming, but this post is to officially let what many of you who are local to Utah already know, May is going to be Utah Author Month! A entire month dedicated to local Utah book bloggers spotlighting our amazing local Utah authors through reviews, interviews, guest p...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Mar 8, 2011, 3:26 pm
If we keep growing like this then we are going to have to find a new place to host our Utah book blogger socials.  We were literally busting through the seams this past Saturday as more than 60 book bloggers, writers and published authors gathered for a fun time. I was thinking about how much we h...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Mar 3, 2011, 12:38 am
2011 is shaping up to be a good reading year. I read every night for at least half an hour before I go to bed, two hours a week while I’m waiting for son outside of a computer class and another two hours a week while waiting for both boys during dance class.  I wish I could sit down and read ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Feb 24, 2011, 7:14 am
If you are a book blogger, author, aspiring author, bookseller, or publishing industry professional, you’re invited to attend our Utah Book Blogger winter social on Saturday, March 5th at 6pm held in the  banquet room at the Golden Corral at 655 East 7200 South in Midvale (map) The cost is $9...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Feb 23, 2011, 1:26 am
Well, would you look at that? It’s a post! And not just any post but a book review post! It’s time to brush off the old keyboard and see  if I can still call myself a reviewer! Whenever somebody that I know offline would ask me what my favorite read of 2010 was (surprisingly a question I hear ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Feb 14, 2011, 2:44 am
The 2010 Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards, or better known as the Cybils, were announced today! Check out the winners across nine different categories! You may recall that I served as a first round panelist on the Fiction Picture Book category and was eager to find out whi...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jan 24, 2011, 1:20 am
You made it! Bloggiesta is coming to a close and you made it to the end!  We officially had over 250 bloggers join the fiesta.  Improvements, new skills and incredible changes were taking place. A shout out to the incredible ladies who hosted mini-challenges: Amy from My Friend Amy (@myfriendamy)...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jan 23, 2011, 6:45 pm
I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the following publishers who sponsored Bloggiesta with the following books up for grabs.  Publishers have embraced bloggers and for that we are grateful.  I was out of town for three weeks and really put Bloggiesta together in the two days before it be...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jan 23, 2011, 3:01 am
Did you know that Pedro has a sister? Well, he does. But she doesn’t have a name like Pedro (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize.) does. Maybe we can brainstorm in the comments? I am so, so, so thrilled with energy of Bloggiesta. It is amazing! The starting line post has almost 250 people s...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jan 22, 2011, 1:21 pm
Hola amigos! What a fiesta we are having! The starting line has gone crazy with all kinds of bloggers joining the fray! From the blog posts and Twitter chatter I’ve been reading, this fiesta is hopping!  Thank you for making it fantastic! But right now Pedro is hungry!!  All this work has his t...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jan 20, 2011, 8:48 pm
Welcome to the 4th Edition (Wow! Can’t believe this is #4) of the Bloggiesta!  Led by none other than our awesome mascot . . . Pedro!! Plan.  Edit.  Develop.  Review.  Organize. How to Party! Bloggiesta begins now and runs  through Sunday the 23rd (technically the wee hours of Monday...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jan 20, 2011, 2:09 am
. . . I am not home. First, there was Christmas spent in California at my in-laws home. We had a great time.  Erica Perl, author of Chicken Butt!, sent my boys a talking chicken. They loved it so much that they stole my camera to take many photos of it. I also think we watched this show probably ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jan 6, 2011, 12:42 pm
I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not I really wanted to post my 2010 reading totals this year.  For one, it will be glaringly clear that my blogging mojo was off for most of the entire year.  I mean seriously, I’ve hardly reviewed anything this year.  The blog has been pretty pathetic l...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Jan 1, 2011, 11:31 am
Who cares about the New Year right?  More important things are here – like the Cybils shortlist announcements! I’ve been waiting months to find out what books have been chosen by Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers as the cream of the crop this past year.  And today is the day! Visit the Cy...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Dec 25, 2010, 4:30 am
The gift of love. The gift of peace. The gift of happiness. The gift of good reading.  May all these be yours this holiday season and the entire new year. Wishing you a very merry Christmas from my family to yours! __________________________________________________ Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Dec 12, 2010, 8:28 pm
It’s already time for the fourth edition of Bloggiesta! Are you a blogger? (With apologies to those who are not).  If so, this event is just for you! Bloggiesta is scheduled for January 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. The beginning of the year is a great time to evaluate your blog, see how you’re doing,...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Dec 5, 2010, 8:36 pm
Ahh the Festival of Trees!  Our favorite time of the year!!  Here in Salt Lake City, the Festival of Trees, is an annual event where individuals, groups, and organizations decorate and donate Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces, quilts, gingerbread houses and gift items.  Everything is aucti...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Dec 2, 2010, 5:41 pm
. . .  I am obviously not blogging. Breaks are good even when they are unannounced and no reasons nor apologies given.  That blogging rule that goes: “you should always post regularly and consistently?”  So not me this past month. We’ve had a great fall and with all the snow on the ground ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Nov 5, 2010, 9:55 pm
If I have dreams of reviewing everything I’ve read this past year in this current year, I need to stop reading and start reviewing!  Such a bad, bad blogger this year.  Read lots of great books this past September and October.  I can honestly say that I liked them all. Thanks to the great read...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 31, 2010, 4:24 pm
Happy Halloween! If your Halloween was anything like our Halloween then you have been BUSY BUSY with all kinds of fun, fall activities and running around from one fantastic event to the next.  And if it’s anything like ours than you also go all out on costumes.  My husband has created quite the...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 25, 2010, 3:15 pm
In Frankie Stein Starts School by Lola M Schaefer and illustrated by Kevan Atteberry, Frankie is different.  He certainly doesn’t look like his parents.  And he certainly doesn’t act like them either. He’s just a tad too clean cut and non-scary looking.  Which happens to make him the scarie...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 25, 2010, 2:01 am
Broom, Zoom! by Caron Lee Cohen, Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier is a book for the youngest of children. A little witch with a big red pointy hat wants to take a late night flight on a broom but discovers that goblin is using it to sweep up spilled flour. After going back and forth about each needing...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 25, 2010, 12:41 am
Scaredy-Cat, Splat! by Rob Scotton is my first introduction to Splat and I found him so cute that I must go seek out Rob Scotton’s other books featuring the same character.  It’s Halloween and Splat is in search of the scariest costume.  But no matter what he does or wear, everybody else is sc...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 21, 2010, 1:53 am
I know I’ve been saying this a lot about the Halloween picture books that I’ve been reviewing this past week but I have another book for you that is sooooo cute and adorable that I can hardly stand it.  Have you seen Goodnight, Little Monster by Helen Ketteman and illustrated by Bonnie Leick? ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 20, 2010, 11:49 am
Ollie’s Halloween by Oliver Dunrea is just about the cutest Halloween picture book that I have read. Oliver Dunrea’s popular characters Gossie, Gertie, Peedie, BooBoo and Ollie all make an appearance in what can only be called an adorable tale. Gossie is a wizard. Gertie is a chicken. Peedie is...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 18, 2010, 11:30 am
Hush, Baby Ghostling by Andrea Beaty and ilustrated by Pascal Lemaitre is the perfect bedtime Halloween book for the much younger set and one that won’t leave them frightened at all. Mama ghost sings her sweet baby ghostling a soft bedtime lullaby: Hush, Baby Ghostling. The haunting hour is pas...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 17, 2010, 6:54 am
In Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott, on the night of a full moon just before midnight, the young son of a barber does what he’s never allowed to do:  leave the house by himself. Well, he’s not really alone when he’s accompanied by his friend Vlad the Vampire is he? Together ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 16, 2010, 6:20 am
Be sure to add The Halloween Kid by Rhode Montijo to your picture book Halloween reading this month. Trick-or-treating has always been fun and safe especially when the town can count on the mysterious masked boy to wrangle up all the Halloween hoodlums.  In fact, he’s done such a good job keepin...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 15, 2010, 6:01 am
Such a gorgeous picture book!  Last year Amanda at A Patchwork of Books was so enthusiastic about this book that I just knew I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll and illustrated by Howard McWilliams was something special long before I got my hands on it. Ethan can’t go to sleep properly.  Not when ...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 14, 2010, 5:32 am
A few years back I went to a home show for one and one reason only: Peter Walsh.  He was the guy they were marketing to get people in the door and boy, did he get me in the door.  At that time I had already read his book It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuf...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 13, 2010, 6:00 am
When  I was in New York City this past May I attended a book signing event at Books of Wonder with a good dozen debut authors. Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards is one book that I picked up there because I simply couldn’t resist it. One -  it’s free verse. Two – it’s h...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 12, 2010, 6:00 am
Forgive me for using the book jacket description for Cult Insanity: A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets, and Blood Atonement by Irene Spencer.  I am so backlogged in the number of reviews I need to write and I’m finding that often it is the summary that slows me down.  When I sat down to begin to...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 11, 2010, 2:05 am
. . . we had our family photos professionally taken for the FIRST TIME (I know kind of crazy considering my BFA is in photography)! Aren’t they gorgeous? I’m so excited! If you are in Utah check out Suzette Anderson Photography.  She did a great job with our little family. __________...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 10, 2010, 10:50 am
I had to mention Bear in Underwear by Todd H. Doodler here on the blog because as many of you may remember we are thick in the middle of potty training around here (uh . . . for about a year actually).  With a three day weekend here and with no plans to go anywhere we decided to hit it full force a...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 6, 2010, 1:30 pm
Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. Was June really the last time that I posted a Library Loot post?  Not for the lack o...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 6, 2010, 12:58 pm
Last night I began to read Mr. Monster by Dan Wells again, the sequel to I Am Not  A Serial Killer.   I was so excited for this book.  I could not put I Am Not A Serial Killer down. My husband ordered the sequel from England as it wasn’t released here yet (it is now! just came out this week...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Oct 4, 2010, 1:26 am

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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 30, 2010, 12:58 am
Seeds of Change by Jen Cullerton Johnson and illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler is the biography of Wangari Maathai who won the Novel Peace Prize in 2004 for her environmental activism which included founding The Green Belt Movement which teaches people to take care of the environment by planting tree...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 29, 2010, 1:48 pm
I really really wanted to do a video review with my two boys reading Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea so you would get an idea of how high energy Bob Shea’s books are.  But sadly, I don’t have access to a camera at the moment.  I could wait yes, but I just couldn’t.  Yesterday I...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 29, 2010, 12:43 am
How lucky are you? Two potty training books in a row! Dinosaur vs. the Potty by Bob Shea released just today and I HAVE to make sure that you know about this simply adorable book.  And if you are in the midst of potty training like I am (I swear I’m NEVER going to get this little guy potty tr...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 28, 2010, 4:40 pm
I am going to tell you a secret.  I have checked out The Potty Train by David Hochman and Ruth Kennison and illustrated by Derek Anderson from the library SO many times that it is really ridiculous that I haven’t bought it yet.  I am most ashamed of this because if I have checked out the boo...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 28, 2010, 12:22 am
In my last post I gushed about how much I love Marla Frazee.  Leslie Patricelli is another one of those illustrators that I LOVE!!  Two years ago (man -was it really two years ago already?!) I was able to interview Leslie and honestly, being able to interview Leslie is one of the best highlights I...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 27, 2010, 2:30 pm
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Marla Frazee!  When I went to Book Expo America this past May, Frazee was top of my list of  people that I wanted to meet.  Even though it was just a short moment in which I  could gush over how much I enjoyed her books, I was thrilled. The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee is her new...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 27, 2010, 1:25 am
The Can Man by Laura E. Williams and illustrated by Craig Orback as described by the publisher: Tim’s birthday is just a week away, and more than anything he wants a skateboard.  But money is tight, and Tim knows his family cannot afford to buy him a board.  As Tim ponders how he might earn...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 26, 2010, 9:21 pm
Me With You by Kristy Dempsey and illustrated by Christopher Denise is perhaps one of the most touching picture books that I’ve come across.  The jacket cover tells me that the book is about a grandfather and a granddaughter but I read the book as a father and daughter.  Either way it’...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 25, 2010, 8:45 pm
In Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Adam Rex, Billy’s troubles begin when his mom says:  “Billy Twitters, clean up your room, or we’re buying you a blue whale.”  But Billy’s not worried, after all, it’s not like you ca...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 25, 2010, 2:30 pm
. . . we have been having a busy month. It all began with our little guy breaking his collarbone. Being wrapped up in a sling though didn’t slow him down one bit as you can see from his shopping trip above.  Our other little guy got a new job: We then ran up to this little place: Where we...
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Natasha M. posted an article on Maw Books Blog - Sep 25, 2010, 2:38 am
. . . we have been having a busy month. It all began with our little guy breaking his collarbone. Being wrapped up in a sling though didn’t slow him down one bit as you can see from his shopping trip above. Our other little guy got a new job: We then ran up to this little place: Where we ...
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