Monday, April 17, 2017

Monday's Riddle: Fluid Space...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? I spent some time over spring break watching these. The motion is very relaxing. ; ) ~ F

Surface friction gets me going, depending on which wind is blowing. I'll slip softly onto shore or rush in crashing at your door. Carrying treasure from the deep, I'll drop it off for you to keep. I may be ridden or left in tow- I come, and then I go. I'm the whole fluid space, caught up in a ripples pace. Not at hand for hi and bye; greetings met are low and high.

What am I? Stop by Wednesday for the answer. 

I gave you a clue!


Monday, April 10, 2017

Spring Break and Ways to Win!

Spring Break is here and we'll be away for the week! We'll still be stopping in to blogs and catching up with all of you. While we're gone we thought we'd leave you with some ways you can win. Have a lovely week!


Catch Fairday in the Wild

Snap a photo of Fairday in the wild. If you see her in a bookstore, shop, or at someone's house, simply take a photo and share it via social media (or email the picture to haightjess@gmail.com).

Winner of our last "Fairday in the Wild" Contest

Make sure to tag us! For each share you will be entered to win a $50 Visa Gift Card. Contest is open internationally and runs until 5/5/17. Happy character spotting!



Drawing Contest

The drawing contest is wrapping up soon. Draw a scene or character from The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow and you'll be entered to win a cool prize pack. Don't miss your chance! For more information see the Drawing Contest Rules. Contest ends 4/30/17.

Winner of the last drawing contest: Mario C. 


Friday, April 7, 2017

Margo's Musings: One Plastic Bag Solution

"People thought I was too young and that women couldn't be leaders. I took these things as challenges; they gave me more power. I didn't call out the problems. I called out the solutions." ~ Isatou Ceesay 


The true story of how one woman looked at the plastic bags littered around her and came up with a way to make a difference. When Isatou Ceesay was growing up the bag she was using to carry items through her village ripped, and when she released it into the wind, she knew it would once again become part of the dirt. All around her she saw people using plastic bags and began to use them herself. Over time she noticed plastic bags on the ground, hundreds discarded by people when they were ripped or broken. As a grownup, Isatou looked around and saw the beautiful Earth with colored bags everywhere. When she finds out that farm animals have been swallowing the bags and dying she decides to act. Grabbing at first only a few bags, and then as many as she can carry, she brings them home. With the help of her friends she washes them and hangs them to dry. Once her sister teaches her to crochet Isatou and her friends begin cutting the discarded bags into long strips and they crochet them into bags. People laugh at them and call them names. But, when they bring the bags to the market place they begin to sell. Isatou earns money and the garbage piles continue to shrink.


The bright colors and textured illustrations really draw in the reader. My sister, Margo, was fascinated by the pictures. The crinkled plastic bags and the scenes really popped on the pages. I loved seeing how Isatou saw a problem and instead of complaining, she decided to make a change. The change started with her, but her friends helped and together they made our planet prettier. This is something we can all do! Looking around we all see trash and things that are falling apart. It is amazing to think that if we all decide to clean up our area that eventually we will have a clean Earth.  When Margo and I finished reading we walked around our yard looking for things we could clean up. Luckily, there wasn’t much, but I plan to walk around some busier areas of town with my friends and I know we will find trash that didn’t make it into the garbage or recycling bin. Who knows- maybe one of us will come up with a clever way to transform something we see!


One Plastic Bag Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia  is a wonderful book for anyone who likes to learn about people who are making the world a better place. Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd and this would be a perfect book to read together to get ideas for cleaning up our planet. Books like this make you want to look around you and see how you can make a difference!

Happy reading! ~ F

*Some people have wanted to see the bags and learn more about the story. Here is the website that goes with the book. You can see the pretty bags and meet Isatou. I originally didn't post a picture of the bags because I wasn't sure if it was okay with copyright laws. :)

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Answer to Monday's Riddle: Plastic Problems...


Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Friday, Margo has a book she can't wait to pull out of the bag, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Two things in line carry the matter. The first I'll explain, then the latter. Synthetic materials make this up- it can be anything from a car to a cup. Take that, add it to tote- what's inside depends on your note. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Plastic Bag!



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

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

Monday, April 3, 2017

Monday's Riddle: Synthetic Containers...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? If you look around they are everywhere, that's why it's important to recycle! ~ F

Two things in line carry the matter. The first I'll explain, then the latter. Synthetic materials make this up- it can be anything from a car to a cup. Take that, add it to tote- what's inside depends on your note. 

What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer. 

I gave you a clue!


Friday, March 31, 2017

Lizzy's Review: Do You Hear Ticking?



"I think it would be better if you knew something about this clock business. I can't tell you all about it because I don't know all about it. In fact, there are times I think I don't know much about it at all. But I'll tell you what I know." 
~ The House With a Clock in Its Walls 



Lewis Barnavelt couldn't have prepared for life at 100 High Street in New Zebedee, Michigan. After losing his parents in a tragic car accident he was taken in by his eccentric Uncle Jonathan, whose mysterious three story stone mansion would be his home. Even though he's nervous, Lewis is excited to explore the interesting rooms and fancy parlors. But when strange occurrences start happening, he isn't sure what to think. Jonathan seems nice enough, but should Lewis worry about his uncle's odd behavior? When Lewis catches Jonathan going through rooms in the middle of the night stopping clocks, he needs answers. Jonathan and his friend, Mrs. Zimmermann, explain that the previous owner of the house was a dark wizard named Isaac Izard, and he concealed the clock inside the walls. It's been ticking towards something dreadful, but they don't know what or even where it is, only that the the wizard had plans to destroy the world. Lewis searches for clues, but once school begins, his thoughts turn to meeting kids. As usual, he isn't popular due to his abysmal baseball skills, and the fat jokes begin. After Lewis's only friend, Tarby, stops hanging around with him, Lewis plots to save their friendship by performing an impressive spell on Halloween night. Is it possible the magic will work? Will Lewis win Tarby back? Why is the clock ticking? Can one kind of magic beat another? Step into this twisty mystery to find out!

The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs and illustrated by the master of mystery, Edward Gorey, is a spine-chilling delight! I absolutely loved this book, and I can't wait to read more of Lewis's adventures at 100 High Street. The mansion Uncle Jonathan lives in reminds me of the Begonia House, with all its secret nooks and crannies. Edward Gorey's illustrations conjure up the perfect mood, capturing the eerie essence of the manor. Lewis is nice, and I wanted him to succeed. I felt happy when he made friends with Tarby, and after their friendship began to break up, I could understand Lewis's reasoning for trying to keep it together, even if his plan involved a big risk. Lewis shows that he can be brave in the face of chaos and uses his knowledge of stories to try to save the world from being destroyed by dark magic. I would recommend this book to readers ages eight and up or anyone who enjoys reading from the edge of their seat.

Has anyone else read The House With a Clock in Its Walls? Or have you read another book by John Bellairs? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

*Thanks to the Little Shop of Stories for recommending this book. :)

Happy reading!
~ L