Library Bag Fave: Is There a Dog in This Book? by Viviane Schwarz

You can't tell, but the yellow part is a different piece of paper that covers the cats. This SHOULD have given me a clue that INSIDE the book would have flaps and cutouts. But, no, I was delightfully surprised. Lots of fun in this story and the illustrations....many, many giggly surprises! The cats talk to the reader, inviting us into their story. Two of the cats discover there is a dog in the book...the third asks what a dog is. The dog in the book is just the cutest little thing. I particularly love his thought bubbles...they are kiddish line drawings of what he is "hearing" the cats tell him. Schwarz has cleverly hid the cats under flaps because they are afraid of him. Well, except Tiny, she wants to be friends. She eventually convinces the other two to feel his soft fur. But then they ask the reader if they want to cuddle their new dog friend. The reader sees the dog looking at them with sheer terror, his ears straight up in the air, with a line drawing of a human in his thought bubble is hilarious! He runs off and hides...behind flaps of course! Such a delightful, unique, fun book! Grab it at your nearest library or independent book store! YAY BOOKS!

Reading Goals, and Young Adult Titles

Go here to read Colby Sharp's reading goals he set for himself. He is one of my favorite sources for everything books and teaching. He and John Schu, another of my go-to sources, collaborate often about books. Colby's goals are sensible and logical, instead of just a number. Colby's Reading Goals

One of his goals is to read young adult books...this is the one that caught my interest. So...of course I had to suggest a BUNCH of books and decided to post it here, too. 

Colby, I LOVE your idea! I’m particularly interested in your YA reads…I’m a little obsessed with YA at the moment…well, for chapter books. I still get a boat load of new picture books each week. May I make a few suggestions regarding YA? (Notice how I’m going to go ahead. And I KNOW that you probably know all of these books and authors…so basically, these are MY favorites.) Maggie Stiefvater: Scorpio Races was a fave of hubby and I…and it’s going to be a movie, but we have joyfully devoured ALL of her books. Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens…wicked hilarious…reminds me of adult writer Christopher Moore. Markus Zusak…Book Thief, of course, but his I Am the Messenger is SO different from BT but fab…I think every teenager should read this book before graduation. Brandon Sanderson’s Steelheart series, think reluctant boy readers. John Green, goes without saying. Eleanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell…another ALL teenagers should read…great music references! Perks of Being a Wallflower. Every Day, David Leviathan. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman…half dragon/half human…waiting for sequel in March! On the lighter side but the story telling is exquisite, think reluctant girl readers, Cinder series by Marissa Meyer. Colby, I admire you…thank you for doing what you do!

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Moira Young was an actress, dancer, singer, and opera star when she took a bad fall. During her recovery she discovered a forgotten old goal...to write a novel. Promptly taking a class in writing, she is now an award winning novelist with her first attempt, Blood Red Road, the first in her Dustlands trilogy.


A desolate world that has become a dusty wasteland, has a mad King who controls his slaves with a drug they call Chaw. Saba knows nothing of this outside her little world...her family lives near a dried up lake, but they get by and are happy, even though their mother died giving birth to Emmi, the youngest. Until the day the men in black cloaks come and kidnap her beloved twin brother Lugh. Her quest to find her brother will not only make Saba stronger and braver then she could ever imagine, it will lead her to the man who makes her heartstone blaze.