Friday 29 January 2010

Latin for the day

And today's Latin phrase is...
Age. Fac ut gaudeam.
For translation & more pithy phrases... visit Fun Latin.

Thursday 28 January 2010

The theme for today is...

Me transmitte sursum, Caledoni!

Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat.

For those interested... check out these other handy phrases.

It's all in the way you say it...

Now, what sounds better? What you say, or what you mean? Things I say - my justifications (ie excuses) and the real reasoning.

  • I don't believe in wrapping paper - it just becomes landfill - so I'll use junk mail instead. Translation: I'm to cheap/broke/disorganised to buy it.
  • I don't believe in birthday/Christmas/etc cards - people just throw them out. Translation: I'm to cheap/broke/disorganised to buy any.
  • I'm going to walk to my meeting (45 minutes away) - because it's good to get exercise after sitting at my desk all day. Translation: I'm too cheap/broke to pay $1.60 for the bus fare. NB: I did enjoy the walk - and it killed time. But it really was the money.
  • I'm carpooling with my sister & brother-in-law, because it's good for the environment & I get to spend time with them. Translation: Translation: I'm too cheap/broke to pay for the bus fare. NB: no lie - it IS nice to spend time with them. So that part's true!
  • I've been known to do this at work. When asked why there was no sign in the teenage section I said it was because *they* don't like being labelled. The real reason? It was under the escalator with no way of suspending the sign...

Tuesday 26 January 2010

And the theme for today is...

Music on a Monday: cover head-to-head #2

Yes, a day late... that's what happens when you don't get organised & can't be bothered plugging your computer in on your day off...






I love both versions.

Saturday 23 January 2010

Friday 22 January 2010

Friday favs... Mo Willems

Every once & a while I give a talk on 'what makes a good picture book'. I sometimes wonder if I should sub-title it 'why I love Mo Willems, and you should, too'...

The Pigeon is fab; Trixie is glorious; and Gerald & Piggie! They are so cute!!!

You must find & read Mo Willems NOW!!!

While waiting...




Which also means, more for the wish list...
I could even cope with this in pink...
oh, which then leads on to all these illustrators! Will the temptation never stop!

Thursday 21 January 2010

The theme for today is...

Which I did today - due to the inclement weather, my driver picked me up from home so I didn't have to walk to the bus stop... how pleasant.
Of course, the smile wasn't that noticeable when my regular coffee stop was closed, so I had to go elsewhere - finding somewhere open at 6.40 in the morning is quite difficult when you don't do the big chains...

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Totally looks like for a Tuesday

A couple of weeks ago I did this Totally Looks Like entry... here's another!
Sometimes it is so blindingly obvious where inspiration comes from...
Le Mis in London


And Adam Ant...





And the theme for today is...

funny pictures of cats with captions
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The adventures of the Moll-ster

As you may know, the Moll-ster has been trapped inside, peeing everywhere, since the infamous vet visit.
She escaped once, while I was putting out the rubbish, but I walked around outside with her, until a neighbour made a loud noise & she ran back inside.
Yesterday, however, she outdid herself.
If I'm home, I leave the ranchslider open to the balcony, so she can feel like she's outside*. After my nana nap during the afternoon#, I couldn't find her anywhere‬‬‬‬‬‬♠. I went outside to bring the recycling bin back, and thought I'd heard her... and there was the suspicious state of the solar light in the garden below the balcony☼. Went back inside, wandered around calling for her - to hear her calling back - from outside...
Such an adventure for an old lady! Either she flew, or jumped onto trellis between my garden & next door's - or just fell off●.
Last night was spent picking bidi-bids out of her fur. She's very fluffy...
Hopefully this will have cured her of the need for adventure... but I still feel guilty keeping her inside▪.

*and can pee in the garden...
#I feel no weekend is complete without at least one nana nap
‬‬‬‬‬‬♠and there's not a lot of 'anywhere' to search
☼ie fallen over in pieces‬‬‬‬‬
●a possibility, as I've seen her almost fall off the balcony, due to her propensity to sit right on the edge, and then roll around cleaning herself...

▪but, not quite guilty - or brave - enough to try out the cat harness I've borrowed from my sister!‬‬‬‬‬

Mary, Mary update #3

Here you go... my garden a few days ago. It's hard to believe how tall the tomato plants have grown since this photo was taken!
I have been eating lettuce most days... and giving it away!
I've used the 'aerial burial' method of caterpillar control [thanks to the ex-flattie for the phrase - I said 'altitude method']... ie threw the caterpillar off the balcony.
Yet again, my lavender is suffering - I can't keep them alive.





Monday 18 January 2010

Music on a Monday: cover head-to-head

Which version is your favourite? Vote now...

Soft Cell... so very 80s





Or Marilyn Manson?

Saturday 16 January 2010

Friday 15 January 2010

How true!

david tennant
see more Lol Celebs

Friday favs...

Friday favs... Mythbusters!



And otters... so, what could be better than Mythbusters WITH otters!

Thursday 14 January 2010

Bunnies!

Gosh - it's been nearly a year since I last blogged about bunnies in Western Springs. I am happy to report that I have seen some recently.
It is rare for me to travel past Western Springs on my way to work these days [thanks B&P for the lifts!]... but last week I bus-ed to work on Friday & Saturday and BOTH mornings I saw a bunny!
On the subject of bunnies - I'm very sorry that Hannah's baby bunnies didn't make it. Hand-rearing itty bitty newborn anythings seems to be nigh-on impossible [I include human newborns in this].

Friday 8 January 2010

1001 children's books... part 39

the wrap up...



Under 3s: I have read 22 out of 37 - which is 59%.
Ages 3+: I have read 73 out of 125 - which is 58%.
Ages 5+: I have read 81 out of 217 - which is 37%.
Ages 8+: I have read 96 out of 361 - which is 27%.
Ages 12+: I have read 68 out of 279 - which is 24%.
Total: I have read 340 out of 1019 books - which is 33%.

What I have learnt? I didn't ever like animal books that much...

I'm working on my must-reads list now... will let you know how I get on.

So, how did you get on?

Happy Birthday David!

Sigh...

For Phoebe / Kayleigh

Hey Pheeb! I think parents might be getting older & they have fond memories of this song from their youth...
Just remember, I'm old... that's how I know this one.


For a Friday...

There's this website I'm a bit addicted to... Totallylookslike - but I know that my totally looks like wouldn't make any sense to Americans. It's the one the ex-flattie used to say all the time...

All Black Neemia Tialata totally looks like


Teal'C from Stargate SG-1...
What do you think?

Thursday 7 January 2010

1001 children's books... part 38

ages 12+, part 11...

251. The slightly true story of Cedar B. Hartley by Martine Murray (Australia) - YES
252. Across the nightingale floor by Lian Hearn (UK, author Australian) - YES
253. Parvana's journey by Deborah Ellis (Canada) - YES
254. The messenger by Markus Zusak (Australia) - YES
255. Dragonkeeper by Carole Wilkinson (Australia) - YES
256. Crispin by Avi (USA) - YES
257. Four sisters by Malika Ferdjoukh (France) - no
258. Slaves of Quentaris by Paul Collins (Australia) - no
259. Mister Monday by Garth Nix (Australia) - YES
260. The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon (UK) - YES
261. The fire-eaters by David Almond (UK) - YES
262. Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo (UK) - YES
263. Keeper by Mal Peet - YES - I even bought a copy, but the person I lent it to, thought I'd bought it for them & I never saw it again...
264. The amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (USA, English born) - YES
265. The running man by Michael Gerard Bauer (Australia) - YES
266. By the river by Steven Herrick (Australia) - no
267. A boat in the forest by Paola Mastrocola (Italy) - no
268. How I live now by Meg Rosoff (UK, American born) - YES
269. Memories of Idhún: the resistance by Laura Gallego (Spain) - no
270. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (USA) - no - what a shame...
271. Grimpow by Rafael Ábalos (Spain) - no
272. New policeman by Kate Thompson (UK) - YES
273. My big birkett by Lisa Shanahan (Australia) - no
274. The red shoe by Ursula Dubosarsky (Australia) - YES
275. Toby alone by Timothée de Fombelle, illus François Place (France) - no
276. Monster blood tattoo: Foundling by David Cornish (Australia) - YES
277. Winter song by Jean-Claude Mourlevat (France) - no
278. The silver jaguar by Hermann Schulz (Germany) - no
279. Finding Violet Park by Jenny Valentine (UK) - no

Total for this lot: 17/29

Total for ages 12+: 68/279.

1001 children's books... part 37

ages 12+ - part 10...

226. Peeling the onion by Wendy Orr (Australia) - no
227. The gifting by Sophie Masson (Australia) - no
228. Out of the dust by Karen Hesse (USA) - YES
229. Deadly, Unna? by Phillip Gwynne (Australia) - YES
230. River boy by Tim Bowler (UK) - YES
231. Pig-heart boy by Malorie Blackman (UK) - no
232. Holes by Louis Sachar (USA) - no
233. The crowstarver by Dick King-Smith (UK) - no
234. I am not Esther by Fleur Beale (New Zealand) - YES
235. Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (USA) - YES
236. Stony heart country by David Metzenthen (Australia) - no
237. The illustrated mum by Jacqueline Wilson, illus Nick Sharratt (UK) - YES
238. Not Chicago. Not here by Kirsten Boie (Germany) - no
239. Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers (UK) - no
240. Thursday's child by Sonya Hartnett (Australia) - no
241. The wind singer by William Nicholson (UK) - YES
242. Troy by Adèle Geras (UK) - no
243. Witch child by Celia Rees (UK) - YES
244. Oh, boy! by Marie-Aude Murail (France) - no
245. Arthur by Kevin Crossley-Holland (UK) - YES, and own a copy
246. Coram boy by Jamila Gavin (UK) - no, but I've tried
247. Refugee boy by Benjamin Zephaniah (UK) - YES
248. Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman (UK) - YES
249. I am Polleke by Guus Kuijer, illus Alice Hoogstat (Netherlands) - no
250. Walking naked by Alyssa Brugman (Australia) - YES

12/25 - spot the years I worked as a teen librarian...

Running total: 51 / 250

Knitting & gardening update

Okay - am changing the recommended ply size on my bag pattern... rather than 8-ply, try bigger - like 10-ply+. I used fancy yarn, so it's hard to tell.

And gardens - I SAW the evil Moll-ster peeing in my garden. I was right! Tonight I see myself sticking skewers into the polystyrene as a deterrent... Although, that said, maybe it is better she pees in there rather than every single patch of carpet in my lounge. I am dreading my next flat inspection. It is getting worse...

Wednesday 6 January 2010

1001 children's books... part 36

ages 12+ - part 9...

201. Listen to my heart by Bianca Pitzorno (Italy) - no
202. Memoirs of a Basque cow by Bernardo Atxaga (Spain) - no
203. Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta (Australia) - YES
204. There will be wolves by Karleen Bradford (Canada) - YES
205. Pagan's crusade by Catherine Jinks (Australia) - Christ in a cream cheese sauce - YES!
206. Flour babies by Anne Fine (UK) - YES
207. Titeuf by Zep (France, author Swiss) - no
208. See ya, Simon by David Hill (New Zealand) - YES, and own a copy... and still cry when I read it
209. Heart's delight by Per Nilsson (Sweden) - no
210. Tomorrow, when the war began by John Marsden (Australia) - YES, and the rest of the series...
211. Some of the kinder planets by Tim Wynne-Jones (Canada) - no
212. Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda (Australia) - YES
213. The gathering by Isobelle Carmody (Australia) - no
214. Gold dust by Geraldine McCaughrean (UK) - no
215. Dougy by James Moloney (Australia) - no
216. Stone cold by Robert Swindells (UK) - no
217. Foxspell by Gillian Rubinstein (Australia) - no
218. Walk two moons by Sharon Creech (USA) - no
219. Switchers by Kate Thompson (Ireland) - no
220. Whispers in the graveyard by Theresa Breslin (UK) - YES
221. See how they run by David McRobbie (Australia) - no
222. A jump into the other world by Bruno Tognolini, illus Roberto Luciani (Italy) - no
223. When the world was still young by Jürg Schubiger, illus Susanne Rotraut (Switzerland) - no
224. Northern lights by Philip Pullman (UK) - no
225. When the snow fell by Henning Mankell (Sweden) - no

8/25

Running total: 39/225

1001 children's books... part 35

ages 12+ - part 8...

176. A parcel of patterns by Jill Paton Walsh (UK) - YES
177. Talking in whispers by James Watson (UK) - no
178. Hating Alison Ashley by Robin Klein (Australia) - no
179. Brother in the land by Robert Swindells (UK) - no
180. Badger on the barge by Janni Howker (UK) - no
181. The Changeover by Margaret Mahy (UK, author a New Zealander) - YES, and own it... and have written masters papers on it, and re-read it annually...
182. The ruby in the smoke by Philip Pullman (UK) - YES, and own it and the sequels...
183. Johnny, my friend by Peter Pohl (Sweden) - no
184. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (USA) - no
185. Taronga by Victor Kelleher (Australia) - no
186. The ghost drum by Susan Price (UK) - no
187. Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine (UK) - no
188. Strollers by Lesley Beake (South Africa) - no
189. The cloud by Gudrun Pausewang (Germany) - no
190. Alex by Tessa Duder (New Zealand) - YES, of course I have...
191. The devil's arthimetic by Jane Yolen (USA) - no
192. A pack of lies by Geraldine Mccaughrean (UK) - YES
193. Caperucita in Manhattan by Carme Martín Caite (Spain) - no
194. Number the stars by Lois Lowry (USA) - no
195. Thunderwith by Libby Hathorn (Australia) - YES
196. Strange objects by Gary Crew (Australia) - no
197. Redwork by Michael Bedard (USA, author Canadian) - no
198. Rocco by Sherryl Jordan (New Zealand) - YES
199. The visits by Silvia Schujer (Argentina) - no
200. Dear Nobody by Berlie Doherty (UK) - YES, and own a copy

8/25... that sucks! What was I reading while I was 12+??!!

Running total: 31 / 200

Advent of Christmas books: How many miles to Bethelhem?

How many miles to Bethlehem? by Kevin Crossley-Holland & Peter Malone (Orion, 2004).
Each player in the Nativity story have their space in this tale. The illustrations are glorious - Renaissance-like, shades of the Middle East.
A true pageant of Christmas glory to end this advent calendar on the Feast of the Epiphany - and the twelfth day of Christmas.

Bag it!

My new favourite activity - knitting these handbags! I got a pattern, then adapted it to suit my handbag needs...
Here's the pattern:
Make 2 pieces pretty much the same...
5 x 50g balls of double-knit / 8 ply try 10-ply or more... I used fancy yarn; 1 ball [each] of contrasting / fluffy yarn/s
5mm needles.

With main colour cast on 45 stitches and moss stitch 60 rows.
Change to contrasting yarn for 10 rows (I used 2 different contrasting yarns, and changed the order, depending on what looked good). [70 rows]
Change to main colour and knit one row.

Rib for another 9 rows [80 rows total]
Rib pattern:
1st row: K2, *P1, K1 through back of loops, repeat from * to end, K1.
2nd row: K1, *P1, K1 through back of loops, repeat from * to end, K1.
NB: knitting through the back of the loops makes a slightly tighter stitch.

Shape handles:
Rib 13 stitches, loosely cast off 19 stitches, rib across remaining 13 stitches to end.
Rib 13 stitches. Join 2nd ball of main colour to other 13 stitches and rib to end.
Rib another 28 rows [110 rows in total].

Rib 13, turn, cast on 7 stitches, turn, rib across 13 stitches of other handle [33 stitches]
Rib another 3 rows [114 rows]
*Rib 2 together, repeat from * to end, K1 [17 stitches]
Rib one row
K1, *rib 2 together, repeat from * to end [9 stitches]
Rib one row
*Rib 2 together, repeat from * to end, K1 [5 stitches]
Rib one row [120 rows in total]
Cast off.

Sew in yarn ends, and sew up.
I'm sure, if you really wanted to, you could line them - but I'm not that flash (or competent with sewing...).

Mary, Mary update #2

This is my garden last week... now the tomatoes are just about tall enough to be tied. The observant may note that there are less plants than previously. This is NOT due to my suckiness at gardening, but because the ex-flattie took some for his garden. Never thought I'd see the day.

I am, however, suspicious that some plants are smaller and yellower than the others. Because they're all together, I feel this may be related to the where the Moll-ster's dirt accessories have come from...


Tuesday 5 January 2010

1001 children's books... part 34

ages 12+ - part 7...

151. Roll of thunder, hear my cry by Mildred D. Taylor, illus Jerry Pinkney (USA) - no
152. Thunder and lightnings by Jan Mark (UK) - no
153. First of midnight by Marjorie Darke, illus Anthony Morris (UK) - no
154. Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker, illus Imre Hofbauer (Canada) - no
155. The Westing game by Ellen Raskin (USA) - no
156. Hey, Dollface by Deborah Hautzig (USA) - no
157. After the first death by Robert Cormier (USA) - no
158. Tulku by Peter Dickinson (UK) - no
159. Neverending story by Michael Ende, illus Roswitha Quadflieg (Germany) - YES
160. My one-legged friend and me by Anna-Liisa Haakana (Finland) - no
161. Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park (Australia, author New Zealander) - no
162. The sentinels by Peter Carter (UK) - no
163. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt, illus Sharon Scotland (USA) - no
164. The scarecrows by Robert Westall (UK) - no
165. Anges Cecilia by Marie Gripe (Sweden) - no
166. The island on Bird Street by Uri Orlev (Israel) - no
167. The secret diary of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend, illus Caroline Holden (UK) - YES
168. The village by the sea by Anita Desai (UK) - no
169. Nausicaä by Hayao Miyazaki (Japan) - no
170. Handles by Jan Mark, illus David Parkins (UK) - no

2/25... that sucks!

Running total 23/175...

1001 children's books... part 33

ages 12+ - part 6...

126. No way of telling by Emma Smith (UK) - no
127. Across the barricades by Joan Lingard (UK) - YES
128. The summer book by Tove Jansson (Finland) - no
129. Julie of the wolves by J Craighead George, illus J Schoenherr (USA) - no
130. Stories from the year one thousand by Tonino Guerra, illus Adriano Zannino (Italy) - no
131. The spirit wind by Max Fatchen, illus Trevor Stubley (UK) - no
132. Fly away home! by Christine Nöstlinger (Germany) - no
133. The Nargun and the stars by Patricia Wrightson, illus Robert Ingpen (Australia) - no
134. The slave dancer by Paula Fox, illus Eros Keith (USA) - no
135. The friends by Rosa Guy (USA) - no
136. The dark is rising by Susan Cooper, illus Alan E Cober (UK) - no
137. Carrie's war by Nina Bawden (UK) - no
138. MC Higgins by Virginia Hamilton (USA) - no
139. Nobody's family is going to change by Louise Fitzhugh (USA)
140. The trouble with Donovan Croft by Bernard Ashley, illus Fermin Rocker (UK) - no
141. Who does this kid take after? by Éva Janikovszky, illus Lázsló Réber (Hungary) - no
142. The chocolate war by Robert Cormier (USA) - no
143. Twopence a tub by Susan Price (UK) - no
144. Tuck everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (USA) - YES
145. The machine gunners by Robert Westall, illus John Williamson (UK) - no
146. The peppermint pig by Nina Bawden, illus Charles Lilly (UK) - no
147. Crisis on Conshelf Ten by Monica Hughes, illus G Humphreys (Canada) - no
148. The October child by Eleanor Spence, illus Malcolm Green (UK, author Australian) - no
149. Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey (USA) - YES, and own a copy
150. Bilgewater by Jane Gardam (UK) - no

total for this lot: 3/25

Running total for age group: 21/150

Advent of Christmas books: Cowshed Christmas

Cowshed Christmas by Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop (Random House, 2009).
Thank goodness - a New Zealand Christmas story that isn't silly and annoying!
Instead, this is a very New Zealand story, with very New Zealand illustrations, that celebrates the birth of Jesus.
It is unapologetically New Zealand - and Christian. And, as such, a breath of fresh air.
Thank you Joy & Gavin.


Monday 4 January 2010

1001 children's books... part 32

ages 12+ - part 5

101. I am David by Anne Holm (Denmark) - YES
102. Pastures of the blue crane by HF Brinsmead, illus Annette Macarthur-Onslow (UK, author Australian) - no
103. The stowaway of the 'Ulysses' by Ana María Matute (Spain) - no
104. Gentle Ben by Walt Morey, illus John Schoenherr (USA) - no
105. The min-min by Mavis Thorpe Clark, illus Genevieve Melrose (Australian) - no
106. The owl service by Alan Garner (UK) - no
107. The outsiders by SE Hinton (USA) - YES
108. Flambards by KM Peyton (UK) - no

109. Smith by Leon Garfield, illus Antony Maitland (UK) - no
110. The dolphin crossing by Jill Paton Walsh (UK) - no
111. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay (Australia) - no, but I've been to Hanging Rock...
112. The Pigman by Paul Zindel (USA) - YES
113. A kestrel for a knave by Barry Hines (UK) - no
114. Chocky by John Wyndham (UK) - no
115. The cay by Theodore Taylor (USA) - no
116. Sounder by William H Armstrong (USA) - no
117. Where the lilies bloom by Vera & Bill Cleaver, illus Jim Spanfeller (USA) - no
118. The edge of the cloud by KM Peyton (UK) - no
119. Oscar at the South Pole by Carmen Kurtz (Spain) - no
120. The summer of the swans by Betsy Byars, illus Ted CoConis (USA) - no
121. The lark and the laurel by Barbara Willard (UK) - no
122. Grover by Vera & Bill Cleaver (USA) - no
123. I'm the king of the castle by Susan Hill (UK) - no
124. A long way from Verona by Jane Gardam (UK) - no
125. Winter in wartime by Jan Terlouw, illus Jan Wesseling (Netherlands) - no

this lot: 3/25

Running total: 18/125...

1001 children's books... part 31

ages 12+ - part 4...

76. Carry on, Mr Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham (USA) - no
77. Viking's dawn by Henry Treece, illus Christine Price (UK) - no
78. Captain Thunder by Victor Mora, illus Ambrós (Spain) - no
79. Neitah: a girl in the far north by Edith Klatt (Germany) - no
80. The silver sword by Ian Serraillier, illus C Walter Hodges (UK) - no
81. The Cherry kids by Constanin Chirita (Romania) - no
82. Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith (USA) - no
83. The baron in the trees by Italo Calvino (Italy) - no
84. The witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (USA) - no
85. The silver brumby by Elyne Mitchell (Australia) - no
86. Marianne dreams by Catherine Storr, illus Marjorie-Ann Watts (UK) - no
87. The lion by Joseph Kessel (France) - no
88. Friday's tunnel by John Verney (UK) - no
89. Zazie in the metro by Raymond Queneau (France) - no
90. My side of the mountain by Jean Craighead George (USA) - no
91. The nonexistent knight by Italo Calvino (Italy) - no
92. To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee (USA) - no
93. The weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner (UK) - no
94. Island of the blue dolphins by Scott O'Dell (USA) - no
95. Tangara by Nan Chauncy (UK, author Australian) - no
96. Friederich by Hans-Peter Richter (Germany) - YES
97. A wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle (USA) - no
98. The letter for the king by Tonke Dragt (Netherlands) - no
99. The twelve and the genii by Pauline Clarke (UK) - YES
100. The time of trial by Hester Burton (UK) - YES, and own a copy...

for this lot: 3/25
Running total for 12+: 15/100

1001 children's books... part 30

ages 12+ - part 3...

51. The yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, illus NC Wyeth (USA) - no
52. Cue for treason by Geoffrey Trease, illus Beatrice Goldsmith (UK) - no
53. Red Zora by Kurt Held (Switzerland) - no
54. We couldn't leave Dinah by Mary Treadgold, illus S Tresilian (UK) - no
55. My friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara, illus John Steuart Curry (USA) - no
55. Johnny Tremain by Eleanor Forbes (USA) - no
56. Woods of Windri by Violet Needham, illus Joyce Bruce (UK) - no
57. The otterbury incident by Cecil Day-Lewis, illus Edward Ardizzone (UK) - no
58. I capture the castle by Dodie Smith (UK) - no
59. Metropolis by Osamu Tezuka (Japan) - no
60. The path by Miguel Delibes (Spain) - no
61. Big Tiger and Christian by Fritz Mühlenweg, illus Raffaello Busoni (Germany) - no
62. The catcher in the rye by JD Salinger (USA) - no
63. The wool-pack by Cynthia Hartnett (UK) - no
64. The sons of the great bear by Liselotte Welskopf-Henrich (Germany) - no
65. Adventures of the ingenious Alfanhuí by Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio (Spain) - no
66. King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, illus Arthur Hall (UK) - YES
67. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (USA) - YES
68. Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff, illus CW Hodges (UK) - no

69. The fellowship of the ring by JRR Tolkein (UK) - YES
70. Lord of the flies by William Golding (UK) - no, well, some of it... I was supposed to have read ALL of it for 6th form English and I just couldn't...

total for this lot: 3/25

Running total for this age: 12/75

Advent of Christmas books: Two cans of corned beef...

Two cans of corned beef and a manulele in a mango tree: a Pacific Christmas by Sarona Aiono-Iosefa & Steven Dunn (Reed, 2004).
The Pacific comes to the traditional English rhyme. A bright and colourful version, perfect for our corner of the world.

Sunday 3 January 2010

1001 children's books... part 29

ages 12+ - part 2...

26. The treasure in Silver Lake by Karl May (Germany) - no
27. Eclipse of the crescent moon by Géza Gárdonyi (Hungary) - no
28. The tigers of Mompracem by Emilio Salgari, illus Pipein Gamba (Italy) - no
29. The hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (UK) - YES, & own a copy
30. The call of the wild by Jack London (USA) - no
31. Jolanda, daughter of the Black Corsair by Emilio Salgari, illus Alberto della Valle (Italy) - no
32. White Fang by Jack London (USA) - no
33. The railway children by E Nesbit (UK) - YES, and own a copy.
34. The fortunes of Philippa by Angela Brazil (UK) - no
35. Jock of the bushveld by Percy Fitzpatrick, illus E. Caldwell (UK, both South African) - no
36. The mystery of the yellow room by Gaston Leroux (France) - no
37. A girl of the limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter, illus WT Brenda (USA) - no
38. The war of the buttons by Louis Pergaud (France) - no
39. Tales of the jungle by Horacio Quiroga (Argentina) - no
40. The cave children by Alois Theodor Sonnleitner (Germany) - no
41. The dark frigate by Charles B Hawes, illus AL Ripley (USA) - no
42. In Medeleni by Ionel Teodoreanu (Romania) - no
43. Emily climbs by Lucy Maud Montgomery (USA, author Canadian) - YES, and own it
44. Tarka the otter by Henry Williamson, illus CF Tunnicliffe (UK) - no
45. Ede and Unku by Alex Wedding (Germany) - no
46. Biggles: the camels are coming by Captain WE Johns (UK) - no
47. The children from number 67 by Lisa Tetzner & Kurt Held (Germany) - no
48. Missing from Saint-Agil by Pierre Véry (France) - no
49. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink, illus Kate Seredy (USA) - no
50. The happy return by CS Forester (UK) - no

Total for this lot: 3/25
Running total for this age group; 9/50

1001 children's books... part 28

ages 12+ - part 1...

1. Bertoldo, Bertoldino and Cacasenno by Giulio Cesare Croce & A. Bachieri (Italy) - no
2. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (UK) - YES
3. Gulliver's travels by Jonathan Swift (UK) - YES
4. The adventures of Baron Münchhausen by Gottfried August Bürger (Germany) - no
5. The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, Sr (France) - YES
6. The children of the new forest by Captain Frederick Marryat (UK) - no
7. The scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (USA) - no
8. The rose and the ring by William Makepeace Thackeray (UK) - no
9. Tom Brown's schooldays by Thomas Hughes (UK) - no
10. The coral island by Robert Michael Ballantyne (UK) - no
11. Eric, or little by little by Frederic W. Farrar (UK) - no
12. Captain Fracasse by Théophile Gautier (France) - no
13. Journey to the centre of the earth by Jules Verne (France) - no
14. The good little devil by Comtesse de Ségur, illus Horace Castelli (France) - no
15. Little women by Louisa May Alcott, illus May Alcott (USA) - YES, & I own a copy... not that I ever intend to re-read it...
16. 20,000 leagues under the sea by Jules Verne (France) - no
17. What Katy did by Susan Coolidge (USA) - no
18. Around the world in 80 days by Jules Verne (France) - no
19. Heidi's wandering and learning years by Johanna Spyri (Germany) - YES - it is just Heidi... oh, and I own a copy.
20. The fifth form at St Dominic's by Talbot Baines Reed (UK) - no

21. With Clive in India by George Alfred Henty (UK) - no
22. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (UK) - no
23. Heart by Edmondo De Amicis (Italy) - no
24. Seven little Australians by Ethel Turner (Australian) - no
25. The prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope (UK) - YES

6/25...

1001 children's books... part 27

ages 8+ - part 15... final list for this age group - finally!

351. Three fairy tales by Gustavo Martin Garzo, illus J. Gabán (Spain) - no
352. The tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, illus Timothy Basil Ering (USA) - no
353. Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce (UK) - no
354. Wolf brother by Michelle Paver (UK) - no
355. Ark angel by Anthony Horowitz (UK) - YES
356. Rabbit and Coyote by Beatriz Donnet (Mexico) - no
357. The cat: or, how I lost eternity by Jutta Richter, illus Rotraut Susanne Berner (Germany) - no
358. The boy in the striped pyjamas by John Boyne (UK) - YES
359. The arrival by Shaun Tan (Australia) - YES
360. The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (USA) - no
361. The graveyard book by Neil Gaiman, illus Chris Riddell (UK) - YES, & own it! This is the most recent book I've purchased for myself.

4/11..

Making the total: 96 out of 361... must try harder...

Advent of Christmas books: The Nativity (Ray)

The Nativity illustrated by Jane Ray (Orchard, 1999).
Text adapted from the Bible, this is a splendid pop-up version of the Nativity story, with your own Nativity scene included. Glorious and gilded.

Saturday 2 January 2010

1001 children's books... part 26

ages 8+ - part 14...

326. Clarice Bean: that's me by Lauren Child (UK) - YES
327. A series of unfortunate events: the bad beginning by Lemony Snicket, illus Brett Helquist (USA) - no
328. Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling (UK) - YES, & own it
329. Kensuke's kingdom by Michael Morpurgo, illus Michael Foreman (UK) - no
330. Hitler's daughter by Jackie French (Australia) - YES
331. Something's fishy, Hazel Green! by Odo Hirsch, illus Andrew McLean (Australia) - no
332. Harry Potter and the goblet of fire by JK Rowling (UK) - YES, & own it
333. The day I learned to tame spiders by Jutta Richter (Germany) - no
334. Cirque de Freak by Darren Shan (UK) - no
335. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo - YES
336. Father grew wings in spring by Tomi Kontio (Finland) - no
337. Alex Rider: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz (UK) - YES
338. The Papunya School book by Nadia Wheatley, illus Mary Malbunka et al (Australia) - no
339. The vile village by Lemony Snicket, illus Brett Helquist (USA) - no
340. Rupert the rapper and Aunt Deep Freeze by Sinikka & Tiina Nopola, illus Aino Havukainen & Sami Toivonen (Finland) - no
341. Mortal engines by Philip Reeve (UK) - YES
342. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (UK) - YES
343. Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (UK) - no
344. Aldabra by Silvana Gandolfi, illus Fabian Negrin (Italy) - no
345. Barrumbi kids by Leonie Norrington (Australia) - no
346. Utterly me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child (UK) - YES
347. The wolves in the walls by Neil Gaiman, illus Dave McKean (USA) - YES
348. The field guide by Holly Black, illus Tony DiTerlizzi (USA) - YES
349. The naming of Tishkin Silk by Glenda Millard, illus Caroline Magerl (Australia) - no
350. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (Germany) - no

11/25... much better!

1001 children's books... part 25

ages 8+ - part 13...

301. The Giver by Lois Lowry (USA) - YES
302. Manolito Gafotas by Elvira Lindo, illus Emilio Urberuaga (Spain) - no
303. A mole always turns up on its own by Hanna Johansen (Switzerland) - no
304. The bed and breakfast star by Jacqueline Wilson, illus Nick Sharratt (UK) - no
305. Way home by Libby Hathorn, illus Gregory Rogers (Australia) - YES
306. Stories to Fernando by Ema Wolf, illus Jorge Sanzol (Argentina) - no
307. Halinka by Mirjam Pressler (Germany) - no
308. Watch out for the cat by Silvana Gandolfi, illus Giulia Orecchia (Italy) - no
309. Poordog the starved by Graciela Montes, illus Oscar Rojas (Argentina) - no
310. 45 & 47 Stella Street and everything that happened by Elizabeth Honey (Australia) - no
311. Tashi by Anna & Barbara Fienberg, illus K. Gamble (Australia) - no
312. Clockwork by Philip Pullman, illus Peter Bailey (UK) - no
313. The view from Saturday by EL Konigsburg (USA) - no
314. Johnny and the bomb by Terry Pratchett (UK) - no
315. The story of a seagull by Luis Sepúlveda, illus Miles Hyman (Spain) - no
316. Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone by JK Rowling - YES, and own it... did you expect anything different?
317. Fire, bed and bone by Henrietta Branford (UK) - no
318. Matthias and Grandpa by Roberto Piumini, illus Cecco Mariniello (Italy) - no
319. Toby by Graciela Beatriz Cabal, illus Alberto Pez (Colombia) - no
320. The composition by Antonio Skármeta, illus Alfonso Ruano (Venezuela) - no
321. Skellig by David Almond (UK) - YES
322. Just annoying! by Andy Griffiths, illus Terry Denton (Australia) - no
323. My girragundji by Meme McDonald & Boori Pryor (Australia) - no
234. The Sterkarm handshake by Susan Price - no, but I've tried to read it 3 times...
235. The dog with the yellow heart by Jutta Richter (Germany) - no

4/25... things have GOT to look up soon...

1001 children's books... part 24

ages 8+, part 12...

276. Gargling with jelly by Brian Patten, illus David Mostyn (UK) - no
277. The hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea (UK) - no
278. Redwall by Brian Jacques (UK) - no
279. The snow spider by Jenny Nimmo (UK) - no
280. Whipping boy by Sid Fleischman, illus Peter Sís (USA) - no
281. I am Susannah by Libby Gleeson (Australia) - no
282. Quirky tails by Paul Jennings (Australia) - YES
283. Mufaro's beautiful daughters by John Steptoe (USA) - no
284. A thief in the village by James Berry (UK) - no
285. My friend the painter by Lydia Bojunga (Brazil) - no
286. The whale rider by Witi Ihimaera (NZ) - ummm, no...
287. Pit pony by Joyce Barkhouse (Canada)
288. Two weeks with the queen by Morris Gleitzman (UK, but author Australian) - YES
289. Hayflower and Quiltshoe by Sinikka and Tiina Nopola, illus Markus Majaluoma (Finland) - no
290. Merryll of the stones by Brian Caswell (Australia) - no
291. Bill's new frock by Anne Fine, illus Philippe Dupasquier (UK) - YES
292. Truckers by Terry Pratchett (UK) - no
293. Haroun and the sea of stories by Salman Rushdie (UK) - no
294. The painted house by Montserrat del Amo, illus Francisco Solé (Spain) - no
295. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (USA) - YES
296. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (USA) - no
297. The story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson (UK) - no
298. Only you can save mankind by Terry Pratchett (UK) - no
299. The last giants by François Place (France) - no
300. Almost everyone could topple by Toon Tellegen (Netherlands) - no

4/25... sheesh... in my defence, these were my uni years...

Advent of Christmas books: Light the lamps

Light the lamps by Margaret Wild & Dee Huxley (Margaret Hamilton Books, 1994).
A post-Christmas tale of the infant Jesus.
Set in Israel, a young girl plays with her neighbour's baby, and worries for her beloved stepmother, who cannot have children. The girl hopes that her stepmother will find comfort in this special baby.
A beautiful story, with great illustrations.

Friday 1 January 2010

1001 children's books... part 23

ages 8+ - part 11...

251. The haunting by Margaret Mahy (UK, but she's from New Zealand) - YES, and own it...
252. The rattle bag edited by Seamus Heaney & Ted Hughes (UK) - no
253. When the wind blows by Raymond Briggs (UK) - YES
254. Me in the middle by Ana María Machado, illus Regina Yolanda (Brazil) - no
255, Schoolboy Jia Li by Qin Wenjun (China) - no
256. The demon headmaster by Gillian Cross (UK) - no
257. Max and Sally by Miloš Macourek, illus Adolf Born (Czech Republic) - no
258. War horse by Michael Morpurgo (UK) - YES
259. The sheep-pig by Dick King-Smith, illus Mary Rayner (UK) - YES
260. Sunday's child by Gudrun Mebs, illus Rotraut S. Berner (Germany) - no
261. Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg, illus Fritz Wegner (UK) - no
262. Mouth open, story jump out by Grace Hallworth, illus Art Derry (UK) - no
263. The eye of the wolf by Daniel Pennac (France) - no
264. Tomb raiders by Odile Weulersse, illus P & G Brizzan (France) - no
265. Pirate's heart by Benno Pludra, illus Gerhard Goßmann (Germany) - no
266. Storm by Kevin Crossely-Holland, illus Alan Marks (UK) - no
267. Sarah, plain and tall by Patricia MacLachlan (USA) - YES
268. Journey to Jo'burg by Beverley Naidoo (UK, author born in South Africa) - no
269. The valley of the fireflies by Gloria Cecilia Díaz, illus F. Melendez (Spain) - no
270. Why the whales came by Michael Morpurgo (UK) - no

5/25 for this bunch...

1001 children's books... part 22

ages 8+ - part 10...

226. The stone book by Alan Garner, illus Michael Foreman (UK) - no
227. Ordinary Jack by Helen Cresswell (UK) - no
228. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, illus Donna Diamond (USA) - YES
229. The turbulent term of Tyke Tiler by Gene Kemp, illus Carolyn Dinan (UK) - no
230. Storm Boy by Colin Thiele (Astralia) - YES, and watched the movie...
231. Charmed life by Diana Wynne Jones (UK) - YES
232. The little man dressed in gray by Fernando Alonso, illus Ulises Wensell (Spain) - no
233. The Kaziranga trail by Arup Kumar Dutta (Indian) - no
234. Under the mountain by Maurice Gee (New Zealand) - YES, and watched the tv series... and seen the movie!
235. Fray Perico and his donkey by Juan Muñoz, illus Antonio Tello (Spain) - no
236. Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry, illus Diane deGroat (USA)
237. Jacob have I loved by Katherine Paterson (USA) - no
238. Night swimmers by Betsy Byars (USA) - no
239. Superfudge by Judy Blume (USA) - no
240. The indian in the cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks, illus Robin Jacques (UK) - YES
241. Nothing to be afraid of by Jan Mark, illus David Parkins (UK) - no

242. Jules's rat by Peter Hacks, illus Klaus Ensikat (Germany) - no
243. Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian (UK) - YES, and own it...
244. Ronia, the robber's daughter by Astrid Lindgren (Sweden) - no
245. The BFG by Roald Dahl, illus Quentin Blake (UK) - YES

8/25...

1001 children's books... part 21

ages 8+ - part 9... we're nearly in the 70s!

201. The Iron Man by Ted Hughes, illus George Adamson (UK) - YES
202. My sweet-orange tree by José Mauro de Vasconcelos (Argentina) - no
203. Doraemon: gadget cat from the future by Fujiko Fujio (Japan) - no
204. A pair of Jesus boots by Sylvia Sherry (UK) - no
205. Charlotte sometimes by Penelope Farmer (UK) - no
206. The little captain by Paul Biegel, illus Carl Hollander (Netherlands) - no
207. Are you there God? It's me, Margaret by Judy Blume (USA) - no
208. When Hitler stole pink rabbit by Judith Kerr (UK) - YES
209. Friday, or the savage life by Michel Tournier, illus G. Lemoine (France) - no
210. The shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Parry Heide, illus Edward Gorey (USA) - no
211. The carpet people by Terry Pratchett (UK) - no
212. Mrs Frisby and the rats of NIMH by Robert C O'Brien (USA) - YES, and own a copy...
213. The cucumber king by Christine Nöstlinger, illus Werner Maurer (Germany) - no
214. Watership down by Richard Adams (UK) - no... but it's on my list to read this month.
215. Efrem the knight by Mino Milani (Italy) - no
216. The ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively, illus A. Maitland (UK) - no
217. Stradbroke Dreamtime by Noonuccal Oodgeroo, illus B. Bancroft (Australia) - no
218. The eighteenth emergency by Besty Byars (USA) - no
219. Chlorophyll from the blue sky by Bianca Pitzorno, illus G. Santini Valeriani (Italy) - no
220. The brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren, illus Ilon Wikland (Sweden) - no
221. Crusade in jeans by Thea Beckman (Netherlands) - no
222. Grinny by Nicholas Fisk (UK) - no
223. The fib by George Layton (UK) - no
224. Conrad: the factory-made boy by Christine Nöstlinger, illus Franz Wittkamp (Germany) - no
225. Granny by Peter Härtling, illus Peter Knorr (Germany) - no

eek! Only 3/25 for this lot...

Advent of Christmas books: The twelve days of Christmas (Sabuda)

The 12 days of Christmas illustrated by Robert Sabuda (Simon & Schuster, 1996).
Sabuda's pop-up extravaganzas reign supreme in this version of the traditional rhyme. A treasure to adore, but not touch very much.