Rasco From RIF

MUSE BRIEFS: A magical cottage, cupcake cars, bookcases I want and need!

November 12th, 2009

I am a fan of Laurie Halse Anderson, pure and simple;  and I am excited for her about this lovely writing cottage she now has as a retreat for her writing periods to continue giving so many of us great pleasure through her books.  You really must take a look at this video about the loving process by Laurie’s husband in providing the magical cottage Laurie now inhabits…beautiful!

WRITING IS FUNdamental, too!
Don’t forget that Reading Rockets is hosting a Prompt Response Writing Challenge that is a response itself to The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.  Students in grades K-12 will have the opportunity each month of this school year to respond to writing prompts provided by the 18 authors and illustrators affiliated with The Exquisite Corpse Adventure!

CONTESTS TO CONSIDER! 
You have until November 30 to enter the latest FLAT STANLEY contest!

Having grown up loving the little public library in my hometown (and the library has grown considerably!), I really like this contest:  The ALA’s Campaign for America’s Libraries is hosting the @ My Library Creative Essay Contest.  Write an original, creative essay or produce a multimedia essay about your unique experience(s) at libraries and why American libraries are important.  Cash prizes for the Grand Prize Winner as well as a People’s Choice Award winner (yes, you can vote!).  Entries are to be emailed by December 7. 

BEAUTIFUL BLUE COVER and MORE
I was so excited to learn that a recent COVER STORY book has been chosen by Al Roker for his book club pick of December.  Grace Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a beautiful cover, an exquisite story.  Grace Lin’s personal story is also one you will want to read. 

A BLOG SHOUTOUT!
If you have never visited writes with pictures, a blog by author and illustrator Deborah Freedman, you should drop by…I find it both a pleasant respite and thought provoking time for me.

DID SOMEONE SAY CUPCAKES?
I have to infuse here a favorite non-literary topic of mine and a favorite of many colleagues at RIF:  CUPCAKES!    Love CUPCAKES!  Did you know there are cupcake blogs too numerous to list?  The popular bloggers at Cupcakes Take the Cake have made a top ten list of cupcake blogs you might enjoy;  and these blogs have cupcake event calendars with a cupcake event for almost every whim you might have!   There are cupcake videos and the best are those that feature cupcake cars!  Say what?  Yes, CUPCAKE CARS - they are THE luxury item in a special holiday catalog this year!  But wait, it is a topic literarily (whoops, a word?):  debate about cupcake books’ longevity, just how long will they be popular as the trend is already outlasting the pundits;  and children’s books love the cupcake theme, too!   Well, I love pink, you know I am more than fond of cupcakes…so my favorite cupcake book is Elizabeth Kann’s Pinkalicious!  So tell me, what is your favorite cupcake book, recipe, video, or new cupcake item I haven’t mentioned?

WANT, NEED……….
Ah, now pass a cupcake, please….and thank you for indulging me.  On to something else I really want and need:  with a big thank you to Better World Books for sharing the link, take a look at these innovative bookcases and tell me your favorite!   I want a version of the “couch” and then a “bear” or similar fun animal for grandson William’s room!

Happy Reading!
Carol

Twitter: @RascofromRIF
 

Filed under: Children's Books, Muse Briefs, Other Blogs, The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, cover story

Tags: @My Library Creative Essay Contest, Al Roker's Book Club, ALA Campaign for America's Libraries, Better World Books, Cupcakes Take the Cake, Elizabeth Kann, Flat Stanley, Grace Lin, Laurie Halse Anderson, Pinkalicious, Prompt Response Writing Challenge, Reading Rockets, The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, writes with pictures