I am self-aware — I know that I nag people about books. I like to call it offering recommendations. That’s what I do here on my blog, on my FB page, and at book club (or any other social gathering 😉 ). But where do I find books to read? I browse catalogs, other bloggers’ sites, readers’ groups, etc. For this week’s Top 10 Tuesday, I have narrowed it down to a few that prove very reliable in discovering my next great read.
Award Lists — You cannot go wrong with award-winning books. For Christian Fiction, the following 3 are go-to sources. I especially like the short lists — lots of options. You can check out the archives of the organizations too to find some gems you may have missed. The links take you to this year’s winners and nominees. I am currently listening to the audiobook of The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White (Christy finalist for historical romance) and loving it!
Favorite Bloggers — While two of my favorite bloggers may live miles away from me (Australia and New Zealand), I find that we almost always agree on the merits of a book. So when they recommend a book I have not read, I take notice. If you like the books that I like, be sure to check them out. They are an especially good resource for internationally published books.
People in The Know — book people who have been in the business for a while are a great resource for recommendations. I follow a lot of authors and publicists on social media, but prolific reader/writer/agent/all around book pusher Rachel McMillan, author of recent release The London Restoration, is my go-to source. I follow her on Twitter and find a treasure trove of new books to add to the TBR from her posts.
This week’s Top 10 Tuesday challenge is to list books with colors in their titles. There are a lot more than I expected! I limited my list to books I have read or that reside on my TBR shelf (Kindle or actual), but the list is still really long 😉 .
While I do use bookmarks, I am not above dog-earing corners in a pinch. I even write in books too, but that’s a different meme. 😉 Today’s Top 10 Tuesday is all about bookmarks. I have quite the collection and have a hard time giving them up, even when they become ragged. They remind me of special people, times, and places. Below are just a smattering of the bookmarks that I own.
Handmade Bookmarks
Bookmarks Commemorating Trips
Bookmarks From Favorite Authors
This last picture is what I really use most often, though. A Book Notes Bookmark that I designed to help keep up with the characters, settings, themes, etc. of the books I review.
What about you? What is your favorite bookmark?
Giveaway!
I am celebrating my 10 Year Blogiversary by giving away a Big Box of Books! Also included are some bookmarks! Click HERE for the giveaway post.
Today’s Top 10 Tuesdayis a character freebie. My husband and I will be first time grandparents in early 2020 *woo hoo*, so it is time to bring out baby name suggestions. I am listing boy and girl names inspired by recent novels I’ve read. What do you think? (And no, I don’t really think any of the names on my list will be chosen by the parents! 😉 )
Top Baby Names from Recent Reads
Girls
Annie from All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner
Belinda from Belinda Blake And The Snake in The Grass by Heather Day Gilbert
Camden from On A Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Cecile from The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma
Elsie from Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett
Joanna from The King’s Mercy by Lori Benton
Kayden from Silenced by Dani Pettrey
Kiera from Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey
Rosa from The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke
Sophie from The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke
Boys
Alex from The King’s Mercy by Lori Benton
Itzhak from The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke
Kjell from Dawn’s Prelude by Tracie Peterson
Nate from Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett
Reef from Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey
Seth from On A Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Stone from Belinda Blake And The Snake in The Grass by Heather Day Gilbert
Tank from Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble
Zach from More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer
Since I have already written about my favorite books from childhood a few times already, I thought it would be fun to highlight some new books that could easily become your child or grandchild’s treasured favorite. So my Top 10 Tuesday features pretty, touching, whimsical, and engaging children’s storybooks. The books run the gamut of topics, seasons, and holidays. I hope you find one you can gift your favorite child! 🙂
Top Children’s Books
The Bedtime Book by Mary Englebreit
Mama comes to tuck you in,
Pulls the covers to your chin,
Squeezes fingers, squeezes toes,
Lays a kiss upon your nose.
New York Times bestselling author Mary Engelbreit presents The Bedtime Book, a beautifully-illustrated picture book that pairs sleepy time text with Mary’s beloved, timeless art. From endearing poems and snuggly stories to sweet blessings and precious prayers, each page of The Bedtime Book features ways for you to read your little one to sleep.
Colorfull by Dorena Williamson
Why be colorblind when we can be colorFULL instead?
Imani and Kayla are the best of friends who are learning to celebrate their different skin colors. As they look around them at the amazing colors in nature, they can see that their skin is another example of God’s creativity! This joyful story takes a new approach to discussing race: instead of being colorblind, we can choose to celebrate each color God gave us and be colorFULL instead.
Easter Is Coming by Tama Fortner
Mommy and her little ones are settling in for story time, and this time it’s the biblical story of Easter that she’s telling. As the youngsters hear God’s tale unfold with its sometimes somber notes about sin and death, they are softly and continually reminded, “But Easter is coming!” By the end of the book, the anticipation has built and the children can celebrate the ending and the glory of Easter Sunday. In a time when children’s Easter excitement often focuses on only egg hunts and candy, this book offers a different — and true — reason for joy and expectancy. It’s designed to be read and reread on the days leading up to Easter, telling the greatest story and building a sense of anticipation and celebration in little hearts.
Found by Sally Lloyd-Jones
From the bestselling The Jesus Storybook Bible, with over two million products sold, comes Found based on Psalm 23. Written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago, little ones will fall in love with this padded cover board book that reminds them of God’s Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.
A Kite For Moon by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Dedicated to astronaut Neil Armstrong, A Kite for Moon is the perfect children’s book to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first United States moon landing.
What would it be like if the moon was your friend? Find out as you walk alongside a little boy who journeys through life to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. And then blast off with your little one as you zoom to the moon together!
The story begins when a little boy, who is flying his kite, notices a sad Moon. He sends up kites to her, writing notes promising he will come see her someday. This promise propels him through years of studying, learning, and training to become an astronaut. Until … he finally goes up, up, up in a big rocket ship with a fiery tail!
Little Sweepea, God Loves You
Featuring read-aloud rhymes and adorable illustrations, Little Sweet Pea, God Loves You is the perfect book for a parent, grandparent, or any other loved one to share with the little one in their life. With each reading, it will bring joy to your child’s heart, and might even bring a tear to your eye as the charming illustrations and sweet rhymes remind you how precious these moments are between you and your Little Sweet Pea.
Little Sweet Pea, God loves you.
From button nose to gentle coo.
Squishy cheeks and sparkly eyes,
Pure delight and perfect size.
The Marvelous Mud House by April Graney
Ben and his American family live in a hungry ranch house where they are always wanting more. But then they travel far across the world to Kenya and visit the marvelous mud house where George and Mama George live. There, among the mango trees, they discover a marvelous lesson about what it’s like to be full of joy instead.
Mary Engelbreit presents A Night of Great Joy, a delightful picture book that celebrates the joyful season of Christmas. This book tells the story of the nativity through the performance of a children’s Christmas pageant. With adorable illustrations and simple storytelling, Engelbreit paints a wonderful picture of the night that Jesus was born.
A Night of Great Joy recalls that fateful night with wonder and awe. From the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem to the gathering of many before the baby Jesus, this holiday treasure leads children through the tale of the birth of Jesus, guiding them with the star of Bethlehem.
Who Sang The First Song by Ellie Holcomb
Have you ever wondered who hummed the first tune?
Was it the flowers? The waves or the moon? Dove Award-winning recording artist Ellie Holcomb answers with a lovely lyrical tale, one that reveals that God our Maker sang the first song, and He created us all with a song to sing.
Would A Worm Go On A Walk? by Hannah Hall
Would a worm go on a walk, if you could lead him down the street? / Would he wear his tiny tennies, if he had two worm-sized feet?
So begins this humorous and imaginative picture book that introduces children to the idea that animals are uniquely created by a loving and wise God. Would a Worm Go on a Walk?, with its colorful, comical illustrations, is a fresh, fun way to teach young children that God created all things very good. He gave all the animals, and children, too, wonderful qualities and unique strengths. Children will giggle over the ridiculous scenarios presented, and they will come away with the knowledge that we all are loved and special. Ages 4-7.
Summer is supposed to bring more time for reading. And while that is generally the case, I have lots of obligations this summer that are cramping my reading style. 😉 Because of that, my NetGalley shelf is overflowing. This summer I am going to try to catch up on all those great titles. Let me know which book I should start with first.
This week’s Top 10 Tuesday is all about valuable books. Books readers won’t loan or, in some cases, even allow others to breathe on 😉 . At first I didn’t think I could come up with anything on this subject. I generally loan all the books I read with the understanding that they may not return. And that’s mostly what happens, although I did have one book returned after it fell in the sink while my friend was washing dishes. And I rescued a long ago loaned book from a relative’s guest room closet. *no words*
So I hold my books loosely, preferring to risk never seeing them again because the insides of the book are too important not to share. (Sounds so noble doesn’t it! 😉 )
I have 2 types of books that will not leave my home: signed copies with personal inscriptions and childhood favorites. These really only have sentimental value. None are signed by famous dead authors, and the books from my youth are generally in fair to poor condition. But they would be hard or impossible to replace.
This week Top Ten Tuesday is challenging bloggers to list their 10 favorite book quotes. Because first lines are very important in grabbing a reader’s interest (and because it has been very busy around here 😉 ), I am sharing some favorite first lines that made their debut in my First Line Friday posts. Hopefully, they will pique your interest (perhaps again) and spur you to pick up a new book.
For more great book quotes (and certainly more creative posts), visit That Artsy Reader Girl.
The weather outside has been frightful so far this winter — rainy and cold — so it’s a good thing I have a lot of good books on my Winter TBR List! What about you? What are you planning on reading during the long, dark days of winter? Check out That Artsy Reader Girlfor lots of great suggestions.
I just found bookish.com! How did I miss this site? For all book nerds, this is the site to bookmark. (See what I did there!) Anyway, their Holiday Calendar is the perfect Advent Calendar for all your bookish needs. I especially loved their December Book Bingo, so I decided to incorporate it into my Top 10 Tuesday list. To get you started, I have included some recommendations that will fill those squares. While the books don’t have to be specifically Christmas-y, that’s what I shared. Enjoy!
Find out what other fun things bloggers are sharing today in the Freebie Top Ten Tuesday by visiting That Artsy Reader Girl.
Many of the books I review are provided to me free of charge from publishers, authors, or other groups in return for a review. The opinions expressed in the reviews are mine and mine alone. No monetary consideration is given. This disclaimer is in accordance with FTC rules.
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Award Lists — You cannot go wrong with award-winning books. For Christian Fiction, the following 3 are go-to sources. I especially like the short lists — lots of options. You can check out the archives of the organizations too to find some gems you may have missed. The links take you to this year’s winners and nominees. I am currently listening to the audiobook of The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White (Christy finalist for historical romance) and loving it!
People in The Know — book people who have been in the business for a while are a great resource for recommendations. I follow a lot of authors and publicists on social media, but prolific reader/writer/agent/all around book pusher Rachel McMillan, author of recent release The London Restoration, is my go-to source. I follow her on Twitter and find a treasure trove of new books to add to the TBR from her posts.
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