Is an 8th Day as Good as it Sounds?

Jax Aubrey can't stand living with his guardian, Riley. What does Riley know about being in charge of someone? He's barely 18 years old himself. When Jax’s father died he wanted to live with his aunt, but because his dad had made arrangements with Riley, that couldn’t happen. Everything is different now. Thank goodness for his best friend, Billy. Without him, Jax couldn’t get through the day. Little does Jax know that his 13th birthday is going to be the start of something new. When he wakes up he can’t figure out where all the people are and why the electricity doesn’t work. He begins to worry that this is the apocalypse. When Riley does explain it all, Jax learns that there's an eighth day of the week sandwiched in between Wednesday and Thursday. Only certain people can experience the eighth day, and there are all kinds of rules about it. There are also some people who only experience Grundsday (the nickname for the eighth day). There’s a prisoner next door who Riley is supposed to be watching, but there are some bad people who are trying to find her so that they can control things. Will Jack be able to keep the bad guys away? Why is the prisoner wanted by so many people? You will be turning the pages to find out what happens next! 

I have wanted to read The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni since I first heard about it. Maybe it's because I've thought a lot about having an extra day in the week. That would be excellent! I could get so much done on that day and even catch up on sleep! But that doesn't seem like what most people use the eighth day for in this book. I liked Jax and thought he was easy to relate to, even if I worried about some of the choices he was making. It was fun learning about a different world and type of people. And I like the references to Merlin and King Arthur. Of course, now I really need to do more research into those stories. This is a great book for kids in fifth grade and up. There is a little violence towards the end of the book, but nothing too overly descriptive. I have already started book two and hope to get the third book soon!

Has anyone else read The Eighth Day? Or have you read another book by Dianne K. Salerni? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~L

Answer to Monday's Riddle: Yay for an 8th Day!

Excellent guessing, Riddlers. This was a tricky riddle, but I was excited to use a past riddle as the bonus clue. I love it when ideas connect! Lizzy and I often dream about how fabulous an extra day of the week would be. We've decided a day between Sunday and Monday, possibly called Funday, would be perfect.


Friday, Lizzy's review will tell us what it might be like to have an 8th day of the week. How would you like to spend the time if you had an extra day? See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Seven's plenty for the rat race run, to answer this riddle, add but one: Mani comes first, bangs on your door. Tyr delivers what's next in store. Odin dwells in the middle at hand. Thor thunders by across the land. Three more steps end this tour, but what could be with one more?

What am I asking for? Answer: An 8th day of the week. 

Bonus clue graphic of the days of the week 

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats





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Monday's Riddle: Seven's the Norm...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? Lizzy and I love this idea. We talk about how awesome it would be quite a bit, actually. ; ) ~ F

Seven's plenty for the rat race run, to answer this riddle, add but one: Mani comes first, bangs on your door. Tyr delivers what's next in store. Odin dwells in the middle at hand. Thor thunders by across the land. Three more steps end this tour, but what could be with one more?

What am I asking for? Stop by Wednesday for the answer. 

I gave you a clue!

Click here for a bonus clue. 

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Ode to a Drink of Water and a Day Off...

We're featuring rhyming children's stories as a part of Angie Karcher's #RhyPiBoMo writing challenge in April. This week we clued you in on an excellent poet. Here are two of our favorite Shel Silverstein poems... enjoy!

My favorite poem of all time...Lazy Jane ~ F
Best Shel Silverstein Poem...Sick ~ L

SICK

"I cannot go to school today,"

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

"I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I'm going blind in my right eye.

My tonsils are as big as rocks,

I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more--that's seventeen,

And don't you think my face looks green?

My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--

It might be instamatic flu.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,

I'm sure that my left leg is broke--

My hip hurts when I move my chin,

My belly button's caving in,

My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,

My 'pendix pains each time it rains.

My nose is cold, my toes are numb.

I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,

I hardly whisper when I speak.

My tongue is filling up my mouth,

I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,

My temperature is one-o-eight.

My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,

There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?

What's that? What's that you say?

You say today is. . .Saturday?

G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

Does anyone else have a favorite Shel Silverstein poem or any other poem that you would like to share with us? 

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Answer to Monday's Riddle: Shel On The Shelf...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers. This week we're spotlighting Shel Silverstein as part of Angie Karcher's RhyPiBoMo writing challenge, featuring rhyming children's stories. I have always loved them! This riddle was challenging- a poem made of Shel Silverstein poem titles. Click on each one to read it. Stop by Friday to find out our two favorites! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Here Comes Lazy Jane, Messy Room and Rain. 

Something Missing, How Many, How Much, Somebody Has To Blame.

Complainin' Jack Put Something In  Moon Catchin' Net. 

Mr. Smeds and Mr. Spats, Sick Monsters I've Met.

Backward Bill, Falling Up, Oh Have You Heard? 

Enter this Deserted House, Won't You  Early Bird.

Stop Thief! What Did? Where the Sidewalk Ends. 

Forgotten Language, Picture Puzzle Piece...brings us round the bend.

Who/ what am I referring to? Answer: Shel Silverstein Poems

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats

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Monday's Riddle: Lightbulbs and Sidewalks...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? Something a little different today, and challenging. ; ) ~ F

Here Comes Lazy Jane, Messy Room and Rain. 

Something Missing, How Many, How Much, Somebody Has To Blame.

Complainin' Jack Put Something In Moon Catchin' Net. 

Mr. Smeds and Mr. Spats, Sick Monsters I've Met.

Backward Bill, Falling Up, Oh Have You Heard? 

Enter this Deserted House, Won't You Early Bird.

Stop Thief! What Did? Where the Sidewalk Ends. 

Forgotten Language, Picture Puzzle Piece...brings us round the bend.

Who/ what am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer. 

I gave you a clue!

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On the Wings of Mother Goose...

April kicks off rhyming children's book month, and we're participating in Angie Karcher's RhyPiBoMo writing challenge.

Not only is Margo a big fan of this idea, but as you know, sometimes I actually think in rhyme, so it's going to be fun.

My riddling beginnings started with the nursery rhymes of Mother Goose. The most intriguing part about this type of writing is that it can be about anything, and true insights are sprinkled amidst nonsense- like clues, hidden between the lines. I love these stories, even though they're a bit dark and you never know what to expect. It's like the real version of Grimm's Fairy Tales, some are shocking! But it's awesome to share these rhymes with my little sister, like how my mom read them with me, and her mom with her.

Here are some stories we think are thought provoking from the classic, Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes. 

Remember to read them in a sing- songy voice.
(out loud or in your head :)

Clue from the Begonia House

THE LION AND THE UNICORN
The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown,
The Lion beat the Unicorn all around the town.
Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown,
Some gave them plum-cake, and sent them out of town.

DAPPLE-GRAY
I had a little pony,
   His name was Dapple-Gray,
I lent him to a lady,
   To ride a mile away.
She whipped him, she slashed him,
   She rode him through the mire;
I would not lend my pony now
   For all the lady's hire.

(a little background to this nursery rhyme. I can remember being completely horrified when I first heard this story. It made such an impression on me, that I had a horse model I kept very safe for many years, and his name was Dapple- Gray- I think Margo sees Mr. Fazzy in the same way. The lady in the picture still sends chills down my spine- like Professor Umbridge!).

MYSELF
As I walked by myself,
And talked to myself,
    Myself said unto me:
"Look to thyself,
Take care of thyself,
    For nobody cares for thee."

I answered myself,
And said to myself
    In the selfsame repartee:
"Look to thyself,
Or not look to thyself,
    The selfsame thing will be."

BEES
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay:
A swarm of bees in June
Is a worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth fly.







 JUST LIKE ME
"I went up one pair of stairs."
    "Just like me."
"I went up two pairs of stairs."
    "Just like me."
"I went into a room."
    "Just like me.
"I looked out of a window."
    "Just like me."
"And there I saw a monkey."
    "Just like me."

(This is a good one to act out- my dad really gets a crowd going :)

And here's a puzzle for all of you Riddlers... 

What goes over the water,
And under the water, 
And always with its head down?

What am I? Answer revealed! A Ship's Nail

I gave you a clue!

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