Writing Stories and Celebrating Poetry

Hi my fellow bookworms,

Happy Spring!

This month I spent much time writing. It has been a while since I pushed myself to do so (with school over and whatnot), and though while the writing was instructive, it was the most creative writing I have accomplished in a while. I am prepping to host a memoir workshop this upcoming month, based upon the Story Circle Network's Older Women's Legacies initiative. I made a complete revision of the workbook that was used previously. It was hard, since I have a couple returning members, but I wanted this experience to be special and new for them. After much research, thinking, writing, and rewriting, I am happy with this new workbook. I hope this next month will be full of heartfelt writing and memories.

March honors many holidays and celebrations, but one I wanted to bring a focus to is Women's History Month. One of the blogs I read promoted this calendar featuring different books for each day in March, celebrating different women in history, written by women. I have not yet read these titles, but the one I want to is the book titled Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen. Find out more information about the books on Janis Robinson Daly's blog here. 

(c) Janis Robinson Daly, 2026

You can always use this opportunity to check off the squares on your bingo card (featured in my January blog post), or to check off your Read Harder list from Book Riot. :) 

Goodreads also has finally unveiled their DNF option, or "Did Not Finish" option. I just categorized a book on my Goodreads shelf as DNF and tagged it, so I will hopefully read it again when I have a moment! I feel like I started and stopped quite a few books this past winter, but haven't updated my public profile. I am aiming to read for fun for at least 20 minutes a day and will hopefully bring you some lovely new reviews soon! 

Speaking of books to read, there is a list of free fantasy novels for your Kindle! Check out the blog, Stuff With Fantasy, for your ecopies today. I believe you will have until the end of the day on Monday to download your chosen novels.

Continuing with my earlier conversation about celebrations...

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger) 2026

April honors many different celebrations, including Deaf History Month, Earth Day, April Fool's Day, Arab American Heritage Month, National Poetry Month, National Scrabble Day, International Dance Day, and of course, religious observances, such as Easter and Passover. One of my coworkers is creating a display for our library observing National Poetry Month. She will be displaying artwork titled "blackout poetry." Blackout poetry is a form of poetry in which you take a page from a printed book (we are using discarded books that are now going to be upcycled), black out most of the page using a permanent marker, and create a poem based on the text present. Some who are more artistically inclined can draw pictures to help further the poem's meaning, others create more profound messages, but it is aimed to help overcome writer's block and unleash your creative spirit. I created my own! :) ^ See here ^

Last year I did my own display for April and National Poetry Month using "Pocket Poems," or poems you can fit into your pocket for on-the-go reading and inspiration. I also had a section were visitors could submit their own poems for display. While I am not a great poet, I love the elegance and rhythmic language and the imagery each poem evokes. 

Would you write a blackout poem? If you do, or just want to write a regular one, or even share a poem already in existence, please do so here! 

Until next month...Happy Reading! :)

Cali's Fun Bilingual Tales by Jorja Colley & Illustrated by Vicky Lommatzsch

Hello my fellow bookworms,

(c) Penguin Random House LLC, 2024

Today, I would like to share my review of the book Cali's Fun Bilingual Tales by Jorja Colley and illustrated by Vicky Lommatzsch! I received a free copy courtesy of Zeitgeist's Insider Club. This paperback bound copy boasts a durable cover with colorful illustrations that will be sure to appeal to both bilingual children and those learning English and/or Spanish! This book is perfect for those between the ages of 5 - 10 years old, as the reading is of a higher level than your learning basics. These bilingual tales are formatted as short stories in chapter form, fun reading for bedtime or learning time.

Each short story takes about as the title states, about 5 minutes to read through. Colley begins each chapter with a keyword dictionary, highlighting key terms both you and your child will learn and look out for within the following story. The stories are written in both English and Spanish, so you can follow along either side, or try to read in the language you are learning for an added challenge. Lommatzsch's illustrations are cute, child-friendly, and colorful. I would love to see this book animated with this art style at some point! The pictures help bring each story to life, with each story covering some sort of language basics, such as people and places. 

As one who is a beginner in Spanish, an audiobook version of this book would be perfect for me to learn even more! Luckily, Colley has graciously uploaded a video on YouTube of her reading her book for us. Win-win! 

If you are looking for more materials to encourage bilingual learning, check out Colley's website Jorja's Dual Language Classroom, where she features freebies, such as teacher survival kits, classroom activities, holiday activities, and more. She also has a Teachers Pay Teachers website, so you can view more tools here, as well. 

I highly recommend Cali's Fun Bilingual Tales. Both Colley and Lommatzsch have created a fun book for those learning English and Spanish, and for those who speak more than one language to just read in whichever language they choose. I had fun reading, and I hope you and your family does, too!

(c) Jorja Colley

About the Author: Jorja Colley

Jorja Colley, with a strong-willed heart for education and passion for being bilingual, has set her mind to do whatever is in her hands to help the bilingual community. She has created Jorja's Dual Language Classroom to share bilingual learning materials with educators, fueled by the dream that all children may one day have access to quality bilingual programs and resources. Jorja lives in the city of El Paso with her husband and daughter, enjoying the richness of a bilingual environment, nurtured by a bicultural life. You can find her on Instagram @jorjasduallanguageclassroom.

(c) Vicky Lommatzsch

About the Illustrator: Vicky Lommatzsch

At the age of 5, Vicky watched her older brother draw Jolly Jumper. She was so fascinated by seeing a character come to life on paper, she realized there was a magical world other than the one she lived in, where anything is possible. She has been drawing and playing in that parallel universe ever since. You can find her on Instagram @vickylomm. 

“One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.” - Emily Dickinson

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Last year was a busy year for me! I apologize for not being as frequent of a poster as I normally am. I am in between a review to post at the present, and have 2 additional books to review, as well. 

As for my book goals, I read, but not as much as I wanted to. My goal for this year is to read at least 50 books. I even created a fun Book Bingo to encourage myself to detox from both my phone and computer. Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes for you. Here is to stopping the doomscrolling this year! :)

Some bookish things to look forward to this year:

• If you are a writer and are looking to publish a teen romance novel, The Little Press is now introducing Baci Books, a Teen Romance Imprint! They are accepting submissions of previously self-published teen romance novels, so review the submission guidelines here. Good luck!

• This year we are celebrating the United States of America's 250th birthday! If you are interested in learning and reviewing White House History, you can explore their digital archives here. Also, check out your local library (or libraries) for events closer to July! 

• Speaking of good things, Andrew Carnegie championed the free public library movement during late 19th century. He donated $5,000 to libraries around the country to help them get on their feet to provide information and services to the public. According to the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Andrew Carnegie described libraries as "cradles of democracy that strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man" (Oct 2025). Since this is a special historical anniversary year, the Carnegie Corporation of New York is going to donate $10,000 to ALL Carnegie libraries across the United States! With this special gift, libraries both small and large will be able to better support their communities, foster civic participation, and best of all, bring people together. For more information, check out the Corporation's Press Release here. 

• The board game (and movie and book series) Clue is supposed to become a reality show on Netflix! I cannot wait to see how it plays out. Check out the article here from Deadline.

• David Baldacci funding a new initiative to address toxic political discourse. More details here through The Washington Post. 

• If you have kids or work with them, and want to spend more time outside, children can now become Junior Rangers online through the National Park Foundation. While the initiative is tied to specific national park sites, this allows children to engage through the science and sounds of the parks, whether it be through fossils, stars, trains, or more! Check out the National Park Foundation release here for more information. 

What do you look forward to this year? I cannot wait until true spring sets in. The false spring weather is great and I have enjoyed sitting on my porch and reading, but the mix of snow in between changes how I like to read (print book versus audiobook). I hope to do more this year, so if you have any questions or suggestions for me, please let me know! 

Until next time - happy reading! :) 

Happy First Week of Fall (and almost start of Banned Books Week)!

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Fall is upon us! Last Monday marked the start of a new season, and while some of the weather still has some remnants of summer, the cool mornings and evenings definitely feel like autumn. The leaves are starting to change colors, our pets are happier walking in the cool breeze, and the weather is perfect to find a good spot in nature and read! Also, today is National Coffee Day, so I hope you had some reading and coffee sipping time to yourself today!

Photo by ALA

This upcoming October 5th - 11th marks Banned Books Week! This year's theme is "Censorship Is So 1984. Read For Your Rights." It is a theme taken from George Orwell's cautionary tale 1984, a warning about the dangers of censorship, while also reminding us that the right to read belongs to all of us, so defend your right to do so! While many of the top challenged books for 2024 are similar to those of previous years, the week is a reminder to not allow censorship to influence your views. It is important to have items in the public that you may not agree with, whether it be politics, religion, or just a world point-of-view, in order to broaden your own horizon, your viewpoint, and to allow for open discussion. If we were in a world where we all thought and talked the same, how boring would that be? Open discourse is what drives us to strive for more, brings upon change and innovation, and teaches us new things each day. 

Below are the top 10 most challenged books of 2024, along with an updated information page, detailing the statistics and censorship trends. 

Photo by ALA

Photo by ALA

I was reading a very informative post by librarian Judi Moreillon online, which listed ways the community could become involved themselves with this week. If you are interested in participating in Banned Books Week, aside from reading books that are/were challenged and supporting your local pubic library, you could also:

• Sign up for the weekly post from the American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom (www.oif.ala.org)
• Sign online petitions and write letters to representatives, schools, and public library boards
• Advocate online using the hashtags: 
• #BannedBooksWeek 
• #DefendResearch
• #FreeSpeech
• #FirstAmendment
• #IntellectualFreedom
• #UniteAgainstBookBans
• Attend a Banned Books Week Event (https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/public-school-strong-partnership-will-connect-banned-books-week-events-to-advocates-nationwide/)
• Volunteer with the American Library Association
• ALA Council Intellectual Freedom Committee: www.ala.org/alsc/aboutalsc/coms/pg1childadv/als-if
• ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom: https://www.oif.ala.org/
• ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/
• Authors Against Book Bans: https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/
• Defend Research: https://defendresearch.org
• EveryLibrary: https://www.everylibrary.org/
• For the People: https://www.librariesforthepeople.org
• Freedom to Read Foundation: https://www.ftrf.org/
• Intellectual Freedom Round Table: www.ala.org/ifrt
• PEN America: https://pen.org/
• Unite Against Book Bans: https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/
• United for Libraries: www.ala.org/united
• We Need Diverse Books: https://www.diversebooks.org/

Some fun book news:

• Do you know someone who is blind, but enjoys to listen to movies and television? I just found out about this neat website run by volunteers called AudioVault. The website requires a login to download any materials and you are limited to 25 a day. Each item is uploaded by volunteers, some of whom are the ones providing the audio description! The website makes it easy for those who cannot see to hear their favorite shows or movies with the audio descriptions narrating along with the actors. AudioVault also tries to upload entire series, so it is easy to continue to binge listen. 

• Reading Rainbow is returning! The new host is none other than *insert drumroll here* MYCHAL THREETS! I personally think this is so cool, first to reboot a favorite show and also one of my school's alumni librarians will be hosting it! :D

• If you enjoy authors Ali Hazelwood, Christina Lauren, J.T. Geissinger, Ruby Dixon, Katee Robert, and/or Kimberly Lemming (all fantastic romance/science fiction/fantasy authors!), there is a new Amazon Original Stories section where each author wrote a creepy romantic fantasy novella! It is a series titled Scared Sexy, available free to Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited members! If you are not a member of either, you can still buy the entire collection for $5.94 online from Amazon. 

• As of this month, the Associated Press is no longer offering weekly book reviews. More details here. 

• If you remember reading The Baby-sitters Club, you'll be happy to hear there will be an official Baby-sitters Club Musical, with a score composed by the same composer of K-Pop Demon Hunters! I'm excited for it - if it is anything like the trending movie, we will be bopping to new music (that is hopefully faithful to the books)! Read more here from Deadline.

I am thinking of using Substack as a way to post in-between things and blog updates. What do you think? Do any of you have a Substack and like the experience?

I am currently reading Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. I am enjoying it, as a music lover and romance novel enthusiast. What are you reading this lovely fall season? Anything you look forward to? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

Happy 250th Birthday, Jane Austen!

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Photo by Photo by Leah Newhouse: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-assorted-books-1666320/Leah Newhouse from Pexels

This year marks the 250th birthday of literary icon, Jane Austen! While her birthday is technically December 16th, August is known for being "Romance Awareness Month," so I feel it is appropriate to celebrate earlier than later! Upon my own celebration, I have been wearing my Austen-like book earrings, wearing my Pride and Prejudice t-shirt from Litographs (which includes sections of the novel as blocks of text creating the photos on the front and back of the shirt!), and reading Austen's juvenilia novel The Beautifull Cassandra (yes, that is a purposeful two L's) and the graphic novel biography of Jane Austen, titled The Novel Life of Jane Austen, by Janine Barchas. I also finally watched Clueless for the first time, which as you know, is based on Austen's Emma, and is perfect timing as this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the movie. As if!

In terms of Austen's juvenilia, or works of the author while they are still young/before they became popular, I enjoyed reading Claudia L. Johnson's Afterword on The Beautifull Cassandra. The story was thought to be based on Austen's sister, Cassandra, which I thought could be true, given how close they seem from stories I heard and read. In the Afterword, Johnson commented on Austen's high intelligence and ability to play with words and write for all ages, even at a young age, how this short story was most likely written to amuse her family, and also on how people either like Austen's work or hate it (though I feel the same could be said of many novels, especially a recent book discussion I attended!). The takeaway from her analysis of Austen's writings is that The Beautifull Cassandra took a story and embraced the uneventful. It was a short, day-in-the-life following of a girl who took what she wanted (a bonnet, ice cream, a ride) and enjoyed her day, no matter the havoc that ensued. The events listed were not grand adventures, but a small adventure, nonetheless. Only, we embrace it in short sentences, are not told details, and everything is over just as it started. I read it as I would a children's picture book, as the copy I had borrowed from the library was illustrated, and enjoyed the short and simple story. It amused me, especially the dedication, and I was delighted to read something from an author I enjoy that I did not know previously existed. 

I work in a library and recently curated a Jane Austen anniversary display, in which I created fun Austen-esque buttons, with her books, movies, books based on her books, photos, and of course, Regency-like ribbons! I love to have fun with my work, and enjoy watching the smiles of others who interact with what I set up. The display sparked an animated conversation between me and a fellow fan, and I realized that not many people knew about the limited release of the new French movie, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. I was lucky enough to catch a showing in my area, and I loved it! It was released to DVD in late July, and I believe it is finally hitting libraries around now. If you are an Austen fan, you will love this romance that takes a bit from the author herself, while also giving a great homage to the work she did in her life and to those she inspired. It made me want to visit the estate!

Speaking of her estate...

You can visit Jane Austen's House as they celebrate the entire year with birthday celebrations! Each season is marked for a book of hers, such as the upcoming Persuasion and poetry festival beginning September 12th and ending on the 21st. The year ends with Austen's birthday celebration during the month of December, and an extra special one on her actual birthday, December 16th! If you are like me and missed out on tickets or cannot make it over to the United Kingdom, you can walk through a virtual tour, listen to their podcast, or if you are feeling especially enthusiastic, you can join the Jane Austen Society of North America, who are offering a free year membership to current students!

Whether or not you have Austen-mania, I hope your summer has been fun, that you have read many books (or at least enjoyed time reading), and have many fall things to look forward to! I am excited for the spooky season approaching and the lovely weather that beckons me to sit under trees with my cat and read.

Until next time, Happy Reading! :) 

Summertime is here!

Hello My Fellow Bookworms,

I hope you are all having a glorious summer so far! Long time, no see! I apologize for my not keeping on top of my blog. I find myself starting posts, but never finishing them. I hope to start my habit again of posting at least once a month. Life has been a little busy, but whose has not?

I had started hosting a memoir writing group workshop at my local library for women. It is an endeavor I never thought I would do on my own, but once asked by my manager last year, I gave it some serious thought. It was a scary thing for me, as English was never my best subject, but it is also a human thing. Personal stories are so interesting, more so in the fact that women over a certain age are "forgotten" by society, and it should never be that way! Everyone is interesting and has purpose. As it is a workshop for women, I started it in March, in honor of Women's History Month. It has been a fun and yet emotional journey. I found myself writing memoir pieces along with them, and it has been challenging. I enjoy writing for myself, rather than only an academic purpose. Will I ever publish my pieces, though? Only time will tell. 

This year has been a crazy storm of news, both good and bad, that affects libraries, museums, and publishing in general. This year has been hard so far for libraries, with the cut of federal grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services ("IMLS"), the dissolution of the Special Libraries Association ("SLA"), and continuous book challenges. If you would like to say, "Hey, I love my library!," you can do so by letting your library know with a heartfelt card or letter, advocating on social media through hashtags such as #DrawnToFreedom or #FundLibraries, or even reaching out to your local representatives and letting them know you love your library! The ALA has a wonderful webpage filled with fact sheets, resources, and even your local representatives' contact information, which can be found here. 

If you are curious as to what the IMLS funded for Illinois, here is a lovely flier that the ALA created on a per-state basis:

(c) ALA, 2025

Want even more of a reason to love libraries? There is a new documentary that was released earlier this spring titled Free For All, and it is now up on YouTube for free via PBS! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this short history into the people who made libraries what they are today. You can also watch a conversation PBS had after you watch the film, if you would like more information into the film:

Miscellaneous book news:

• As of June 27th, the Supreme Court ruled to protect federal broadband programs. What does this mean for you? This decision preserves the current E-Rate program, funding for affordable, high-speed internet at libraries and schools across the country. With all the cutbacks that have been happening in libraries and grants, this win is quite a lot! You can find out more information from ALA here. 

• If you are an author, especially a self-publishing author, this will affect you! Publishers' Weekly no longer accepts books for review submission for free, as it had for over 100 years. Instead, it now costs $25 for each book you submit. More information can be found here.

• Be careful when purchasing new books on Amazon. There are AI clones of books that are floating around, which the original authors are not getting paid for. The covers are being swapped with a fake cover image, AI changes the original language of the book and rewrites the story using a different language, the name of the author is changed - but kept just close enough to confuse people buying the book, and the list of Bad Things AI does grows. Check out the original article from CBC here, if you are interested in learning more. 
  
  
• If you are a teacher or school librarian, you could be receiving audiobooks for free from Libro.fm! Libro.fm is giving away ALC's, or Advanced Listening Copies, to teachers or school libraries who work with students between the ages of 5-18. Interested? Check out the program details here (and also to sign up)!

• An interesting new app that I still need to test is out on the market, promoting that it can read any of your PDF articles out loud for you. It is called ElevenReader Plus and is free to download for both Android and Apple, and although you can pay for a subscription, you can use it for free for up to 2 hours of listening per week. Depending on usage, this is a pretty nice app for those who may need someone to read out loud to them!

• Feeling stressed? Too much "doomscrolling," or scrolling non-stop through social media and/or the news? The Calm app recently had an article stating how we should take a nature break - go outside, breathe the air, embrace the sunlight, go for a walk. All these things can lead to a better mood, less stress, and better cognitive function, and physical health. Bringing a book helps! I enjoy reading in the grass with my cat surveying the sights, or just lounging in the forest and watching deer pass by. It is summer, so enjoy the most of it while you can! (This is not sponsored, this is just something I think is very important for all of our mental health at this time - I am guilty of doomscrolling video shorts!)

I do not have a book review at the moment, but I am in the middle of several books right now. One of which is called Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier. It feels like a cross between Moana and How to Train Your Dragon. 

Also, I also am being sent a book in the mail that requires a review, so please look forward to it!

I hope you are having a fantastic summer filled with adventures both in your life and on the page. If you would like to, please let me know what you are reading in the comments!

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

(c) 2025, Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

Happy New Year! Happy Lunar New Year!

 Hello my fellow bookworms,

Happy New Year and Happy Lunar New Year! This Lunar New Year is the Year of the Snake. According to the NBC News, beginning on January 29th (which is also National Puzzle Day!), this year is about renewal, regeneration, letting go of the past (whether it is anger, lost love, etc.), and start a new beginning. This year is about growth, creativity, and positive transformation - so be sure to clean your home, decorate with red to add good luck, and celebrate with your family and friends (Google).

Photo by RDNE Stock project from Pexels

I hope you have been enjoying the winter weather so far! It has been a mix of warm and cold weather with us, and I am definitely enjoying the warmer part! We already had our first snow, but we have been having a lot of rain, so luckily I have a good stack of books to read ready to go!

February marks the beginning of Black History Month! Libraries all over the United States have some really cool events planned. DC Public Library is hosting "Historically Black Phrases Live!" LA County Library is hosting many different book discussion and live music events. New York Public Library is hosting an innovative Book Design Workshop with Blk + Brwn Book Designers, in which patrons can learn book binding basics! If I lived closer, I would totally go to this event!

Something really cool that the Chicago Public Library is doing is hosting tours of the Pullman National Historical Park Museum. Pullman National Historical Park is a part of the United States' National Parks Foundation, designated in 2015, and the first one in Chicago. In middle school, I had chosen the Pullman estate as a topic for a history project, and thought it to be fascinating and unfair. The town of Pullman became one of creating Pullman cars (a type of railroad car), factories, homes, and basically a ploy that trapped workers in the area. Workers would have their pay deducted if they lived in the town of Pullman. There were many issues with how the workers were being paid, which led to the Pullman Strike of 1894, to which George Pullman was criticized for his policies and experimentation of how he ran his company, town, and factory workers, and the Supreme Court ultimately ordered the Pullman Company to sell its non-industrial land holdings (no more controlling the workers!). The success of the company came back to fruition under the leadership of its next president, Robert Todd Lincoln. I had pictures and postcards from my time visiting the area, but if you happen to visit, please share what you learn / your photos!

There a lot of books, music, and movies that you can consume and learn from this upcoming month. I recently learned there is an audiobook of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous speeches and sermons, which would be a pretty neat experience to hear! If you are not sure what you would want to read/listen/watch, here are some options:

• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby
• By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
• Coming to America
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
• The Deep by Rivers Solomon
• Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
• Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin
• Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
• The Hate U Give
• Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
• Just Mercy
• Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Essential Box
• The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monae
• Moonlight
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave
• One Night in Miami
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
• Real Men Knit by K. M. Jackson
• Run by John Lewis
• The Unspoken by Ian K. Smith
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
• The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates 
• You Should See Me in a Crown  by Leah Johnson 

I know this blog post is a mesh of different ideas, but I finally graduated and I feel I am now back into the groove of blogging again. I would like to leave you with some fun links before I sign off:

• Temptations (the cat treats brand) released a series of fabulously purrfect reads featuring cats as the main characters. Check them out here!

• Book Riot released their annual Read Harder Challenge! I hope to finally tackle some of these fun book challenges this year, now that I do not have to read my homework anymore! :)

• Starbucks partnered with Oprah and is hosting a book club. The one for December featured Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These. It is a short book covering heavy topics, one that was gifted to me by a friend, so I hope to catch up on my reading and read it. The latest title is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. 

• Goodreads hosted their Goodreads Choice Awards last year, of which you can now see the winners, voted on by readers like you! A few of the currently nominated books that I want to read include:
• James by Percival Everett
• The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
• A Touch of Chaos by Scarlett St. Clair (the last in a series!)
• Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
• The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
• Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

I wish you all the best this year! Happy early Valentine's Day! I hope you make time for yourself and treat yourself to a good cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate and a good book. 

Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels

Happy Reading! :)

Happy Halloween and National Book Month Bookworms!

Happy Halloween my fellow bookworms!

I hope that wherever you are, you are having fun and are safe, enjoying the holiday and all it has to offer. 

Photo by Kaboompics.com from Pexels

I am at that point in school where I am almost finished! I hope to go back to book reviews soon. :)

Happy National Book Month, too! October is the month that promotes the importance of reading, writing, and literature - although you probably celebrate this all year long, anyway!

In the meantime, I would like to share some book news with you:

• LibraryTok is a community of librarian creators who utilize the social media platform in order to show behind the scenes of what happens at the library. How cool is that?! 

• Banned Books week has passed in September, but October 19th was Freedom to Read Day of Action. It was one more day to tell our local government to stop censorship and to help back libraries all over the United States. 
• Even though that day has passed, as well, you can still celebrate the joy of reading in many other ways! Check out these really cool nail artists, as seen on the nail polish newsletter from Holo Taco, and their book nail art!



(c) Holo Taco & @silieol_nails, 2024



(c) Holo Taco & @nailswithmemaw, 2024



(c) Holo Taco & @0716shivi, 2024

• Other ways you can help your local libraries include:
• Get a library card 
• And use it!
• Talk to your friends and family
• Use your library! 
• There are so many events to attend and items to check out, go see what is new!
• Join your Friends of the Library Organization 
• A non-profit organization that helps your local library with book sales and funding programs!
• Donate to your local library
• Volunteer at your local library
• a.k.a. donate your time!
• Use social media to spread awareness of book banning and censorship, in addition to talking about how great your library is!

• Some cool, new adaptations are in the works, including:
• Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries will get a third movie
• A Netflix Pride and Prejudice series
• Frieda McFadden's The Housemaid will have a movie adaptation
• Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart will have a television adaptation
• Rebecca F. Kuang's Yellowface has been optioned for a series adaptation

• Pizza Hut gave out 1 million free pizzas to readers to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Book It! Program. I loved this program as a child! I am so happy that it continues to bring happiness to other children (and free pizza, too)!

• With the U.S. election day on the horizon, you may feel overwhelmed. A great escape is to look for geocaches! Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt that uses a GPS or app on your phone to find hidden containers called "geocaches." You can even hide one yourself! Check out this nifty blog post by Cache Advance to see how geocaching can help you find a little relief from everyday stress. 

That is all I have for now. This year has gone by very quickly and busily. What is something you look forward to next month? I look forward to new movies and the beautiful fall weather.

Until next time bookworms! Happy Reading!

Freed Between the Lines! (Banned Books Week, Sept 22nd - Sept 28th)

Hi my fellow bookworms,

This month marks the annual Banned Books Week, beginning on Sunday, September 22, 2024 through Saturday, September 28, 2024. The theme this year, as stated by the American Library Association ("ALA"), is Freed Between the Lines. What a great way to promote the freedom to read!

A few statistics, from the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom ("OIF") to breakdown this past year's challenges on banned books (and it has been a year!):

• Challenges of unique titles surged 65% in 2023, compared to 2022

• This past year had the highest level of challenges ever recorded by the ALA

(c) ALA, 2024

• OIF documented 4,240 unique book titles for censorship
  
  
• There were 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023
• Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens to hundreds at a time, started this uptick in challenged materials

• Public libraries were targeted more, in addition to school libraries, in 2023 than previous years

• Titles tagged for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% in 2023, accounting for approximately 46% of all book challenges in 2023

• 76% of items challenged were books and graphic novels, 5% displays, 4% access (bomb threats, library closures), 4% hate crimes (vandalism, theft of materials representing marginalized groups), 3% programs, 2% films, and 6% other

• School libraries saw an 11% increase in challenged materials, compared to 2022

• In total, 54% of censorship attacks attack public libraries, 30% attack school libraries, 5% schools, and 2% higher education/other

• 47% of the censorship attempts targeted LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals

• The highest groups initiating censorship attempts have been patrons, or those who visit the library, with 28% of censorship attempts, followed by 24% parents, and 21% pressure groups

• Attempts to censor more than 100 titles were recorded in the following 17 U.S. states:
• Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin

(c) ALA, 2024

How does ALA compile its data? Through book challenge reports filed by library professionals throughout the United States, in addition to news stories. This doesn't cover all the data required for a full picture, though, as some reports never make it to ALA, so the above is

just a snapshot of the censorship that occurred over the previous year. 

So, what is a challenge? ALA states that 

"A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict access to materials or services based upon the objections of a person or group. A challenge to a title may result in access to it being retained, restricted, or withdrawn entirely" (n.d.). 

Previous book challenges have resulted in a book intended for a younger audience being removed from that section and placed in an older section of the library, requiring a parent's permission, being given a rating warning, or even requiring an older age to check the book out. These challenges are an attempt to remove materials from the public view, removing the public's ability to access them, their views, their ideas, their voices. (I'm imagining Ariel and Ursula as I write this.)

A formal challenge to a book means the start of a long process in which everyone involved with the library becomes involved, typically with the policy of the library and the library board who ultimately decides if the book meets the library's mission and criteria set in it's policy. ALA also states that

"A book is banned when it is entirely removed from a collection in response to a formal or informal challenge. Any reduction in access to library materials based on an individual or group's believe that they are harmful or offensive is an act of censorship" (n.d.). 

Here are the Top Ten Books that were challenged in 2023, along with their reasons why (You may see some repeat offenders from 2022):

(c) ALA, 2024

How can you help? 

• Check out the website Unite Against Book Bans, they have lots of ways to participate against censorship, as well as free tools to help you succeed in doing so.
• VOTE! This is an election year, we must make sure our votes count, so no more challenges or censorship continues - let's bring the above statistics back down!
• Read challenged books. Understand why they were challenged. Make your own decisions. Check out book resumes hosted on Unite Against Book Bans, if you do not have time to read all of them at the moment. 
• Attend your local library board and school board meetings. Make YOUR voice heard!
• Visit your library! If you don't have a library card yet, get one - they're free! You can check so many more things out than just books, including music, audiobooks, movies, and sometimes, even technology (e.g., sewing machines or VHS to DVD converters)!
  
• Create your own Little Free Library and offer challenged books for those in your community to read.
• Read the ALA's Intellectual Freedom Blog to stay up-to-date on all things banned books related.
• Alert ALA of any book ban attempts in your community through the OIF office.
• Sign on the Freedom to Read Statement, and state your support in the belief of the freedom to read!

I support everyone's right to read. Until next time, I hope you "Freed Between the Lines!" 

Happy reading (banned books)! :)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

ALA. (n.d.). Book ban data. https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data

United Against Book Bans. (n.d.). Get involved. https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/get-involved/ 

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

Hi my fellow bookworms!

(c) Scribner, 2018

Earlier this year, I read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson. I was under the impression it would help motivate me to clean up my home, similar to reading or watching Marie Kondo. Instead, the book took a more solemn approach to cleaning - one that cleans not only for yourself, but to rid yourself of items that your descendants (or others) will not want or have to clean up after you pass on. What a sad topic!

While an interesting, yet kind of depressing read, I did take note, however, that in the book was mentioned a tradition in Stockholm that takes place on the 14th of August. Annually, there is a large book sale that takes place in the center of the city, featuring street-wide tables with books that people want to pass onto new owners. I love this idea! A great way to offload books that no longer spark joy to you or have relevance in your life, and also a great way to find more books that interest you! 

(c) Visit Stockholm, 2023

I looked more into the festival and am not sure if this is a resident-only event, but there is an annual Book Weekend called Stockholm's Bookmässa. According to the International League of Ancient Libraries, the tradition of an annual antiquarian book fair dates back to the late 1950's, hosted in the halls of the Academy of Arts. The Instagram for the City Stockholm states that this annual, long-awaited national literary tradition occurs in late February to early March. If you plan to visit Stockholm to browse their book sale, plan to go around then, as it looks like it is a blast!

If you are interested in reading this self-help / motivational book, find it at your local library, bookstore, or online. It recently became a TV show hosted on Peacock last year, if you are interested in giving it a watch after (or before - I won't judge) reading it. She also wrote a sequel, titled The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly. While I enjoyed the first book, I'm not sure if I will visit the sequel any time soon. (I am craving happier reads as we near the fall season.)

What have you been up to? Any fun, new reads to share?

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

(c) Margareta Magnusson,2022

About the Author: Margareta Magnusson

Margareta Magnusson is, in her own words, aged between 80 and 100. Born in Sweden, she has lived all over the world. Margareta graduated from Beckman’s College of Design and her art has been exhibited in galleries from Hong Kong to Singapore. She has five children and lives in Stockholm. She is the author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning and The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly.

Zines, Zines, Zines!

Hello my fellow bookworms!

I wanted to share with you today part of a Zine Making Workshop I went to today, at Secret World Books out in Highland Park, Illinois. The workshop featured a short history of Zines presentation by Emily Steffen of Chicago Zine Fest!

Chicago Zine Fest (2024) defines a zine as:

"A zine (an abbreviation of the word fanzine, or magazine; pronounced “zeen”) is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier on a variety of colored paper stock. A popular definition includes that circulation must be 5,000 or less, although in practice the significant majority are produced in editions of less than 100, and profit is not the primary intent of publication. Zines are written in a variety of formats, from computer-printed text to comics to handwritten text. Topics covered are broad, including fanfiction, politics, art and design, ephemera, personal journals, social theory, single topic obsession, or sexual content far enough outside of the mainstream to be prohibitive of inclusion in more traditional media. The time and materials necessary to create a zine are seldom matched by revenue from sale of zines."

Some brief history tidbits that I picked up during our presentation include:

• The first zine makers trace back to the 1700's with Benjamin Franklin! Remember Poor Richards Almanac? That was printed and produced without a publisher, and it is widely known today! For more information on the beginnings of zines, check out this short blurb in the Virginian-Pilot from August 4, 1995.
  

• Science-fiction authors helped to contribute to zines, due to the fiction they wanted to published. It was deemed "too fantastical," so authors like H. P. Lovecraft took it upon themselves to publish their work without the help of a publisher. Thank goodness they did so, otherwise our science-fiction, fantasy, and horror novels would not be what they are today!
  

• Zines helped the grrrl riot movement in the 90's, a movement of punk girls and women, allowing women of all ages to express themselves freely about topics that were never explored in the mainstream, such as sexuality, abuse, politics, and a general way to document what was happening to them at the time. Check out this thoughtful article by Ashwanta Jackson, titled Start a Riot (and a Zine), Grrrl, from JSTOR, for more background information. 
  

• If you want to create your own zine, do it! There are a lot of how-to's and videos online. Vice has a nice article titled A Beginner's Guide to Making Zines that helps to fill in what to do. Some tips from Emily included:
• DO NOT USE PENCILS! They erase and go everywhere, and is generally not a good medium.
• If you use alcohol inks, put paper underneath your zine paper, as the inks will bleed through.
• Fold and crease over a couple times, both ways. Ensure your creases are perfect. (No one wants an odd shaped zine - especially if you are buying one!)
• Folding zines by yourself over and over can take away the natural oil from your hands. Use a bone folder, such as this one from Amazon. It can help you score and crease without pain and your hands can stay nice and naturally oily without issue!
  
• If you can make your zine memorable and stand out from others, do so! I loved the zines by Rachel Bard that Emily brought to the workshop, such as a little matchbook zine about burning out or one about an acorn (I am not sure what the story was there, it was too delicate to touch). They were cute, pretty, and I would love to add them to my own library! (Note to self: Buy some of Rachel's work! Isn't the seashell adorable?)
• Revamp your social media image and then be sure to add your social media to your zine! If people like your work, you want them to be able to contact you / ask for more. 

• If you want to sell your own zine, try so at Quimby's Bookstore. Ask them for a form to do so and submit. Who knows, you may be making some extra income on the side, while meeting a whole new group of people!

• Also, you should check out the Chicago Zine Fest, which is coming up on October 5, 2024! They are also looking for volunteers, if you should choose to help out.
  

There was time after the presentation to create my own zine, which was a really cool activity and opportunity! I hope you enjoyed learning a little about zines today. Who knows, maybe your local library will bring zines to their collection! ;)

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Bookworm Gardens

Hi my fellow bookworms!

I hope you had a pleasant spring so far, as we are now heading into summer! Many libraries are now celebrating Summer Reading, so no matter what your age is, you should go check out your local public library and check out all the new events and books in store!

This past month, I had the pleasure of visiting the cutest little book-themed garden in Wisconsin, called Bookworm Gardens. I love to make it a point to visit places that are literature-themed -- it is both inspiring and fun! While the gardens are quite appealing to a younger crowd, it is still a fun walk and adventure down memory lane. The gardens host workshops for all ages, and even has themed weekends, like the fun Fairyfolk Festival, Haunted Hounds, or Boos and Brews! Each garden is based off of a children's book, and you could even read a copy of the book at the gardens! There are plans for expansion, so I cannot wait to visit again in the future. Check out the story of the gardens through their YouTube story here:

Here are some of the photos from my trip - can you figure out which theme each garden is?

(c) 2024 Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

Have you ever visited a place like Bookworm Gardens? If so, which one(s)? If not, what is on your bucket list?

Until next time, happy reading! :)

Curlilocks and the Three Hares, written by Andrew Hacket, illustrated by Jan Dolby

Hello my fellow bookworms,

(c) The Little Press, 2024

Today, I have another children's book review for you! The second book in A Modern Fairy-Tale Series, today's book is titled Curlilocks and the Three Hares, written by Andrew Hacket and illustrated by Jan Dolby. It is scheduled for release tomorrow, May 1st! 

A cute twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Curlilocks is a young girl who does not like her hair. She wishes her hair could be like others girls her age, maybe with color, accessories, or even a whole new hairdo! She takes matters into her own hands by visiting a hair salon where everything does not quite fit her style... A cute ending befitting the heroine, the story's morale is that sometimes you are beautiful just as you are.

In terms of the writing, the text is large and easy to understand for those children starting to read chapter books or are already reading them, perfect for younger readers between the ages of 6-8. The illustrations are colorful and imaginative. Although the book is 56 pages long, your little one will pass the time quickly reading through this fun story! 

The book contains bonus content, including a how-to draw Curlilocks, as well as discussion questions if you were to read this book out loud to a class. The author, Mr. Hacket, is a teacher, so the questions are curated to bring the best thinking out of a class discussion! If you visit his website, he has some awesome Educator Resources to encourage sustainability, engineering, and science.

Can't wait to read Curlilocks and the Three Hares? I really enjoyed this modern take on a classic fairy tale, and think you will, too! You can find your copy through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local library (where you can request the book if they do not have it yet!). You should also check out the first book in the series, titled Willa the Werewolf. Keep an eye out for the third book, Digital Red, coming soon, too!

A big THANK YOU to The Little Press for providing me with an ARC!

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

 

(c) Andrew Hacket, 2024

About the Author: Andrew Hacket

Teacher by day, parent by night, and writer in the nooks and crannies of life. When it comes to his books, Andrew Hacket aims to create stories that tickle the funny bone and hug the hearts of readings both young and old. He lives in Massachusetts with his many curly-haired family members.

 

About the Illustrator: Jan Dolby

(c) Jan Dolby, 2024

Jan Dolby is a freelance children’s illustrator and graphic designer based in Aurora, Ontario Canada. Jan is internationally published and has a vast amount of technical and graphic design experience. She has illustrated over 35 books for children and is incredibly grateful for her creative life and is delighted to be illustrating for the children’s industry. Seeing her work in bookstores and online is a dream come true.

Her first Canadian picture book, ‘Gabby’ written by Joyce Grant won the Rainforest of Reading Festival Award – Montserrat in 2015. Since then she has illustrated Gabby: Drama Queen, Gabby: Wonder Girl, Lucky Me, The Cold Little Voice and But Why? A Virus Story About Feelings. She has illustrated children’s books with authors Joyce Grant, Alison Hughes and Jackie Azua Kramer to name a few.