Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler

I've heard many good things about the writing of Octavia Butler, so I finally read one of her works; it definitely won't be my last. Wild Seed which was first published in 1980, and this genre bending book is a combination science fiction/fairy tale.

Blurb from the back of the book: Anyanwu is all that is female: She can birth tribes, heal with kisses, and transform into anything she forces herself to be. Doro is all that is male: He possesses, seduces, hunts, and kills, raising armies and bending empires to his will. One cannot die, the other cannot be killed. They are all that is human and far more.

What happens when a man who cannot die and has lived for thousands of years meets a 300 year-old shape-shifter woman who can heal herself almost immediately? What happens if this man sees in her a woman he can breed with to create a super race with human controlling powers?

I loved this story because I loved Anyanwu. She is kind, good, a healer, but she can be ferocious when she needs to be. This story made me wonder what I would change myself to be if I could be anything - what would be my natural state? This story shows how women are often controlled by pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood. This is a story of power and of rights and how the imbalance of power effects rights.

This story also reminds me of the cult I left as teen. Doro is all about inbreeding to create his master race just as the cult of my childhood was. I found myself, with pencil in hand, annotating all through this book.

Quotes I liked:

"Sometimes, one must become a master to avoid becoming a slave" (10).

"I have seen that people must be their own gods and make their own good fortune. The bad will come or not come anyway" (20).

"People often hesitated to challenge a man who seemed important and purposeful" (28).

"Though she came from a culture in which wives literally belonged to their husbands, she had power and her power had made her independent, accustomed to being her own person. She did not yet realize that she had walked away from that independence when she walked away from her people with him" (29).

"But once she was isolated in America with an infant to care for, she would learn submissiveness" (29).

"She sought to make him value her and care for her. Thus she might have some leverage with him, some control over him later when she needed it. Much married as she was, she knew she would eventually need it" (33).

When Doro is upset that she travels in the body of a man, she says, "People will think before they attack a man - even a small man. And they will not become as angry if a man gives them a beating" (41).

"Civilization is the way one's own people live. Savagery is the way foreigners live" (110).

Read to a child today even if that child is you.

Maggie donated these books to the NICU along with a box of books for local Little Free Libraries. Thank you, Maggie. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

I enjoy reading early science fiction to see how authors from the past visualized
 one supposed future. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells was published way back in 1898, before flight, before we knew what was on Mars, before travel to the stars, and yet Wells does a good job on incorporating the science of the time into a quite frightening story.

I listened to the audio version of the story that is narrated by one of my favorites, Christopher Hurt.


The story begins with a large cylinder falling to earth and the townspeople try to figure out what it is. British colonization is seen as a theme of the story, but now something new has come to colonize earth.

More and more cylinders fall to earth, and the Martians kill and feed on the humans. Blurb from the back of the book: Thirty-five million miles into space, a species of Martians sets eyes on the planet Earth. With their own planet doomed for destruction, the Martians prepare to invade. Their weapons are ready and their aim is ruthless. The war of the world is about to begin.

Read to a child today even if that child is you.

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

A Way of His Own by T.A Dyer

A Way of His Own by T.A Dyer was published in 1981. This book reminds me of Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel only written for middle grade instead of adults. The story follows an ancient family. Shutok, the main character, has some type of physical injury that makes it hard for him to walk. His back and legs ache all the time, and often when his family travels, he has to crawl. Because his family migrates to where they can find game, he is often traveling alone.

His family sees his ailment as an evil spirit, and they don't want that evil spirit to infect them and plan to abandon him. Shutok must find a way to save his own life because of the belief system of his family. Shutok finds an unexpected friend in a captured slave from another clan, and with her help, he may survive his family's superstitions.

Read to a child today even if that child is you.

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand was published in 1943. I listened to the audio version which was narrated by the amazing Christopher Hurt.

This 679 page saga follows Howard Roarke after his expulsion from architect school. Howard Roarke is a man who stands up for what he believes in. He is expelled from school because he wants to take architecture into the future instead of designing things that look like the past. The story is set from the 1920s into the late 1930s.

Roarke goes to work for his idol and learns that business is hard for those who refuse to change their belief system. He struggles to support himself because he won't alter his designs to suit public opinion. The story also follows Roarke's classmate Peter Keating, a man with looks and charm but little talent as an architect.

This story shows how public opinion can make or break a career. With Keating soaring to the top and Roarke falling even though Roarke has more talent.

Roarke is generally a good hero. He is strong, works hard, sticks to his principles, with the exception of Rand writing him completely out of character and having him commit rape. As a reader, when a writer does something that a character would not do, I just disregard it. The rape makes sense in fueling Dominique's anger, but her anger doesn't really seem like anger, so I'll disregard it.

There are many parts of the story that made me want to be a better person. To write without worrying about what my readers will think. To create my own art without worrying about public opinion. Dominique was one messed up woman and I struggled to understand her. I liked the changes in Gail Wynand and found Tooehy a worm of a man.

Well worth the listen or the read.

Read to a child today even if that child is you.

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Counting Wolves by Michael F. Stewart

Counting Wolves by Michael F. Stewart was published in 2017 and from the blurb on the back, I wasn't sure what to expect of this book - was it complete fantasy or would it be about  mental illness?

Goodreads blurb:

Milly’s evil stepmother commits her to a pediatric psych ward. That’s just what the wolf wants. With bunk mates like Red, who’s spiraling out of control; Pig, a fire-bug who claims Milly as her own—but just wants extra dessert—Vanet, a manic teen masquerading as a fairy godmother with wish-granting powers as likely to kill as to help; and the mysterious Wolfgang, rumored to roam for blood at night; it doesn’t take long for Milly to realize that only her dead mother’s book of tales can save her.

But Milly’s spells of protection weaken as her wolf stalks the hospital corridors. The ward’s a Dark Wood, and she’s not alone. As her power crumbles, she must let go of her magic and discover new weapons if she is to transform from hunted to hunter.


Stewart did a good job trying to unravel the stigma that surrounds mental illness. The nurse says, "No one here is crazy. You should have realized that by now. You have nothing to prove. You come here when you are sick. You leave here when you are better" (205).

Milly is concerned about the stigma of being in a psych ward. She misses her phone that allows her to communicate without counting. Milly has to count to a hundred before she can speak, eat, or go through a doorway. It's her magic spell that keeps the wolf from devouring her. She knows her magic works, but the counting spell is driving everyone away from her and making her sick in the process. 

Steward does a good job incorporating fairy tales into Milly's story, and I liked the role the book of fairy tales plays with Milly's mind. 

This is a story about finding your truth - that is almost constantly changing as the players figure out what is real. It is also a story about facing your truths and fighting your wolves - wolves we all have. 

Quotes I liked:

"What's wrong? But I'm not ready to share that, even if it isn't my fault, even if it's common and no one should care. I know they do. I do" (100). When speaking of the stigma of mental illness.

"Maybe she's forgiven me for not being there when she woke up in the dark, ready to say goodbye, and only found the wolf there to take her" (123).

"She wouldn't be the first person to mistake Jesus for the prince with true love's kiss" (125).

Although I won't share the last paragraph of this book, it is one of the best ending paragraphs ever. It gives the reader the courage and strength to keep breathing, fighting, and trying. 

This book would work well as a Hi/Lo book. The content is fast paced, interesting to teens, there is plenty of white space on the page, and the cover is awesome and incorporates many things from the story. 

I wish the book had been longer, but the length of 217 pages is perfect for Hi/Lo readers. 


Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Jamie Nilson sent a box of books for our book project. Some of these will go to the NICU and the rest will go to local Little Free Libraries. Thank you so much, Jamie for helping our book drive. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Silver Seeds by Paul Paolilli and Dan Brewer

I collect poetry books, and Silver Seeds written by Paul Paolilli and Dan Brewer and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher is a beautiful addition to my collection. Published in 2001, each page has a word written vertically, and the first word of each line begins with the letter.

For instance:

Down goes the moon
And up come the sun,
Welcoming the
New day.

Folds and Folds
Of soft spun sugar, like a soft
Gray blanket over the land

Huge elephants
In a row,
Lying
Low and
Sleeping.

Each poem has something to do with nature, and the pictures are beautiful. I only wish it was twice as long.

Sarah sent these books for the NICU book project. Thank you, Sarah.

Hollie and Tanya brought this group of books over for the NICU book project. I appreciate everyone who contributes to our book project. Thank you.

Read to a child today even if that child is you.

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock

On a recent visit to a local thrift shop, I found the book Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock for 50 cents and it is in like new condition. I also found out it is the first of six books. I want to finish this artsy series, so I'll be on the hunt for the next five.

This book was published in 1991. Every page is a work of art featuring a post card or letter with art on it. The letters are in envelopes and you actually have to take them out, unfold them and read to continue the story.

The story begins with a fan contacting an artist. The fan, Sabine is also an artist, and the two begin a correspondence, which leads to their friendship; only there is a twist and it ends with a mystery, so you can see why I need the next books.

The art alone is one reason to purchase this book. This is a quick read that looks more like a picture book, but it isn't for children.

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

2018 Totals NICU Book Project

I started collecting books in 2014 for the NICU where my daughter works to honor the lives of my own twins and also of two grandchildren who did not survive pregnancy. As a reading teacher, I saw that children who were read to, had better attention spans and did better in school. It took me a year to gather 150 books sorted into packets of 5 books each. I delivered them in September of 2015. I had only planned on making this one donation, but the books were so needed by the parents, that I kept on gathering books.

Other people started donating books so we could attempt to make sure every baby went home with a packet of books. Parents read these books to their babies during their often lengthy stays, helping their baby's brains and creating bonding moments full of love. 

Here are two boxes of packets ready to go:

Each packet has a half sheet handout explaining why it is important to read to your baby. I put at least one board book in each packet, and we also create packets for families whose first language is Spanish. 

This year we had 1,630 books donated to the NICU. I purchased 613 of them, so that means over 1,000 books came from friends of our NICU book project. My sweet mom donates all the two-gallon zipper bags. 

Our 2018 donors are:

Michelle Schwendiman

Cayli and Brandon Johnson

Christy Tucker

Michelle Bulow

Valarie Schemk

Meredith Malan

McKay Dee Hospital Foundation

Child Life Services at McKay Dee Hospital

Tanya and Hollie

Alysen Jeffries

Sharon Hall

Krista Young

IHC

Britney Shaw

Rolean Peterson

Angela Jensen

Caitie Jolley

Marla Daniels

Jacki Simper

Angie Moore

Janet Gleue

The Other Side Thrift Boutique

Usborne Book Drive

Cami Allen

Heidi Voorhees

Heidi Crezee

Michelle Horne

Liam Gregory's Wish List

269 books came from Anonymous donors.

In 2018, we gave 42 packets to Jordan Valley Hosptial and 284 packets to McKay Dee Hospital. I believe we were able to serve almost every baby who spent time in McKay Dee's NICU. We may have missed a few, but with your help, we are getting close to helping every single baby at the McKay Dee NICU begin their reading journey. 

We've had two donations so far this year, 2019:

Michelle S brought these books over:

My mom, Rolean, donated another 100 two-gallon bags to help keep the books safe at bedside:

Read to a child today even if that child is you.

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather was originally published in 1915. Cather's books are often sad and this one has sad parts, it's also a story about hard work, perseverance, and the willingness to sacrifice for one's art.

Thea is the star of this book, and it covers her life from childhood into middle age. She is the daughter of a Swedish minister. Her mother wants her to grow up to be a music/piano teacher because she feels Thea has a gift for it.

Cather paints pictures of the time period and the characters are well developed. Thea isn't always likable, but she is always relatable. This book is more of a saga as the reader learns what it will take for Thea to develop her talent.

This book is book 2 of her Great Plains Trilogy, but it stands well on its own, and you don't need to read any other book to understand this one.

I enjoy Cather's work because she writes well, she is good at creating characters that feel real, and she makes me care about her characters.

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

The Butterfly Alphabet by Kjell B Sandved

I just added a new ABC book to my collection. If you have a butterfly lover, consider The Butterfly Alphabet by Kjell B Sandved, which was published in 1996. This beautiful book contains full color pictures of close-ups of butterfly wings that contain letters of the alphabet.

In the back of the book the author has included facts on butterflies and a biography of each of the twenty-six featured butterflies and moths.

Each page has a poem with a word featuring the letter.

"On wings aloft across the skies - An alphabet of butterflies."

"Each butterfly in secret brings a letter hidden in its wings."

"The rainbow gave to butterflies spots of color just their size."

"They dance among the forest lights like floating flower petal sprites."

"Each lifted by a gentle breeze, they soar above with simple ease."

I love butterflies and poetry, so this is a great book to add to my collection.

Front Cover

Back cover

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Read to a child today even if that child is you.