A Cash Donation to Our NICU

Recently, a kind couple from the NICU gave $100 for us to buy books. I have a teacher friend who let me order the books from her Scholastic book order. She even gave us the bonuses generated by our order to get more books.

With the $100, we were able to purchase 88 books for the NICU.

Most of the books were only $1, but a few were $2, $3, or $5 combined with our free bonuses, these are the books we were able to purchase with this generous gift. 

 Yes, there are a few Don and Audrey Wood books and the must have Eric Carle.

One of Angie's coworkers sent these books. We currently need board books, so I was happy she sent these.

Angie went through her books at home as she was getting low on shelf space, and sent these beauties to help fill packets. Used books in like new condition are wonderful additions to our project. 

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 Round House by Louise Erdrich

The Round House by Louise Erdrich was published in 2012 and was a National Book Award Finalist. This is a complicated story about a horrific crime that takes place on or near a reservation in North Dakota. A woman is attacked, but she is unable or unwilling to share the details with anyone. She retreats into her own mind and cannot leave her room.

Her son, Joe, decides to try to solve the crime himself. His father works in the legal system, and Joe has spent a lot of time reading his dad's law books. Joe has a great love for his mother and is determined to bring her back to their world. Erdrich weaves a rich tale of tragedy, humor, deep-dark, and spiritual writing that brings the reader right into the story. I loved the friendships in this story and how people took care of one another. I loved the relationships Joe had with both his mother and his father. This is a book I would read again.

Erdrich sets a feeling of tension and suspense in this story. I wanted Joe to win; I cheered for him, and sorrowed with him at times. Although there is sadness in this story, it is also a story of hope and love. And the ending, Wow!

Tanya and Hollie brought these books for our NICU babies. We were low on board books and they brought us eight! I am grateful to get these books. 

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. 

Thanks to All from the NICU

Take a look at the books that have arrived for the NICU babies. These books make a difference in the lives of all those who use them. These donations help make a NICU parents life just a little easier.

My sweet friend, Alysen, brought these board books over for the babies. I love board books for babies as they can take being handled by little hands.

Caitie, my daughter, brought this cute Mercer Mayer book.

Child Life Services at McKayDee Hospital gathered books for us and this stack is headed into a new teacher's classroom. Any books that can't be used in the NICU are passed along to teachers to help them build their classroom libraries, so feel free to send us used books as we will find them a good home to build the literacy of local school children. 

Child Life Services also sent this stack of books that are headed into the NICU.

This stack from Child Life Services is headed to the NICU waiting room. The books in that waiting room get a lot of use, so we are happy to have a few more for the children who visit that area.

My friend, Michelle, sent these four books for the NICU babies. I love everything Kevin Henkes writes. 

 

We recently had a book drive using the hostess gifts from Usborne. We were able to purchase 49 new books for the NICU babies. Usborne books are sturdy, priced well, and beautiful. Some of our friends bought books for the NICU from this party, so we got double blessed. We also had a couple of cash donations that were used to purchase some of these books.

 More from Usborne:

 More from Usborne:

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. 

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein was published in 2012, and though I've had it for a few years, I finally read it. I struggled to get into this book because I wasn't sure what was happening, but I am glad I stuck with it.

The story begins with the writings of a woman who has been captured by the Gestapo. She is accused of being spy and is being tortured for information. She has agreed to write her story for them. The reader is unsure who she really is. The story is painful to read at times even though it is well written as the subject is dark.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is fiction but a story that could have happened. The story is plausible and the characters are well written. Sometimes they are likeable and sometimes they are not - just like real people. My confusion was gone once I got to part two. This part is written by a different character and questions begin to get answered. I found myself going back and reading the spy's account over again, and thinking, "Oh, how clever," and "Oh, well done, Wein, well done." The writing is so vivid, I felt like I was watching a movie.

Books about the Holocaust are important, and I liked that this book is about the women who put themselves at risk for the greater cause. I loved the friendships in this story, and this is a book I would read again.

My neighbor, Marla called me last week and said that Jackie Simper donated 90 brand new Seuss books to her classroom. She only needed 30, so these will be in the next 60 packets that go to the NICU. They are beautiful full size hard back books. Thank you to Marla for thinking of  our project when she had books that needed a home, and Thank you to Jackie for donating these books. I appreciate you both.

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. 

Birds by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Laura Dronzek

I recently found a book by Kevin Henkes that I didn't yet own, but I own it now. :) Birds was published in 2009. Laura Dronzek is the illustrator. All the pictures have bold black outlines which makes this a great book for even the littlest of babies.

In Birds, Henkes tells that birds can be different colors, so this book teaches colors. He talks about birds sizes, so your baby can learn about big and little and in between. He talks about the number of birds, so you can count with your child. He also helps a the older little child learn about abstract ideas, like what if we could see the trails birds make in the sky, or what would the sky look like if the clouds were birds. He talks about seasons, and my favorite page is a surprise.

Henkes never fails to delight me with his books for young readers. I have the hard cover version, but this book also comes as a board book, making it perfect for tiny hands.

Michelle and her grandson, Lucas, brought this cute book over for the NICU babies. Thank 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.

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl was published in 1975. The copy I own was illustrated by Quentin Blake. Danny and his father live in a Fortune Teller's caravan that is parked next to their filling station where they also repair cars. 

One night when Danny's father is out late, Danny learns that his father, his late-mother, and his grandfather used to poach pheasants from their rich neighbors land. They liked the secrecy of it, and although I am not a supporter of poaching in any manner. I enjoyed this story because of the relationship Danny has with his father. 

Their adventures get them into trouble, and the story is funny and often tender. Danny learns to drive while he is a child, and he is a big help to his father. I think children will like this story. I love the part when the baby is in the buggy and the birds are flying everywhere - too funny and a bit scary. 

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.

Another way to help our project is to purchase books from this Usborne link as we are currently using the hostess benefits to help buy books for the babies. You buy books that are delivered to your house for your children or grandchildren - or as baby shower gifts, and the hostess rewards help us get books for our NICU babies - a win win for all. Thanks to those of you who have already ordered; we are on our way to getting a lot of books for the babies. 

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

More NICU Donations

My doorbell rang the other day and my neighbor, Michelle, and her cute little grandson, Lucas, were there. Lucas had these books in his arms and told me they were "for the babies." He was so happy to share them. Thank you, Michelle and Lucas.

We had an Usbourne book party to benefit the NICU and the next two pictures are of books that were purchased from the party for the NICU. We also get more books for the NICU from our hostess benefits. 

This group of books was donated by Krysta Young. All of these will be well loved by the babies in the NICU. Usborne books are very sturdy and last. Thank you Krysta.

 Sharon Hall donated these books. Board books are so wonderful for little hands. They can take some nibbling and still hold up. Thank you, Sharon.

And just like that, we have books once again for the babies. 

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.

Another way to help our project is to purchase books from this Usborne link as we are currently using the hostess benefits to help buy books for the babies. You buy books that are delivered to your house for your children or grandchildren - or as baby shower gifts, and the hostess rewards help us get books for our NICU babies - a win win for all. Thanks to those of you who have already ordered; we are on our way to getting new books for the babies. 

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

NICU Donations

Donations this week to our NICU babies include the following, plus I understand several of Angie's friends ordered books from our Usborne link to donate directly to the babies. I'll post pictures of those after I visit Angie. We will also be getting free books as hostess gifts from our Usborne link. 

Angela Jenson donated these books. They will be headed to the NICU waiting room and also to a local teacher's classroom. 

 Brittany Shaw donated these books that will be put into packets for the NICU babies.

Caitie Jolley sent a big box of books pictured in the next two pictures. The first books pictured will head to the NICU waiting room and to a local teacher's classroom.

This second batch that Caitie sent over will go into packets for the NICU babies.

I appreciate every book that is donated. Some of the used books get donated to local classrooms, but all the books find a home, so thank you all for helping spread the love of literacy across our community. 

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.

Another way to help our project is to purchase books from this Usborne link as we are currently using the hostess benefits to help buy books for the babies. You buy books that are delivered to your house for your children or grandchildren - or as baby shower gifts, and the hostess rewards help us get books for our NICU babies - a win win for all. Thanks to those of you who have already ordered; we are on our way to getting new books for the babies. 

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

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

I've been hearing a lot of good things about Jason Reynolds, but so far, Ghost is the first book I've read by him. It definitely won't be the last. Ghost is a book that makes me want to go back to teaching so that I can place this book in the hands of my students.

Castle aka Ghost is a boy who can run, but he's never run for a track team. When a coach sees his natural talent, will Castle be able to tame his anger to be able to be on a team?

Castle is so real. He makes mistakes, but he is also a good person. When he makes his big mistake, I was impressed with how Reynolds handled it. I liked that Ghost struggled with his feelings of guilt. He didn't know how to make things right after what he'd done. I loved Coach. Every child needs an adult like Coach in their life. He is tough but fair.

My only complaint was that I wanted this book to be longer. The good news is that this is the first of four books in the Track Series, so I can get more of the characters I've come to love. This book really is just the right length for middle grade and middle school students. This book brings up many great discussion points and can help children come up with a plan to deal with anger, frustration, feelings of inadequacy, and fear. It also shows how to be a friend and to be someone who can be trusted.

I listened to the incredible audio version that was narrated by Guy Lockard. They chose the perfect narrator for this novel. I was trying to get ready for work while listening, and had a hard time with my eye makeup because I was tearing up - a lot. This book made me laugh and cry, which is the sign of good writing.

Thank you, Jason Reynolds for a wonderful book.

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.

Another way to help our project is to purchase books from this Usborne link as we are currently using the hostess benefits to help buy books for the babies. You buy books that are delivered to your house for your children or grandchildren - or as baby shower gifts, and the hostess rewards help us get books for our NICU babies - a win win for all. Thanks to those of you who have already ordered; we are on our way to getting a lot of books for the babies. 

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

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

I probably should have read Les Miserables sooner in my life, but now I can say that I've read this 1,463 page behemoth, although, actually, I listened to the audio version that was narrated by Frederick Davidson who is an absolutely wonderful narrator. He speaks French perfectly and has a wonderful accent. He was also very good at making the voices sound different from each other without making them grating. 

His voice also got me through the parts of the books where Hugo describes in detail the French sewer system; gives all the back story of every single character in the novel, even the bit players; describes at length the French justice system; gives 500 and eleventy-billion ways a man loves a woman, and every other place he spews words on the page like the flood of Noah's time. 

That being said, I loved this book. Yes, it is wordy; yes, Hugo needed an editor, badly. If you are a history buff, you will love every word of it, but I just wanted him to get back to Jean Valjean - back to the action of the story. Hugo paints complex characters. I wanted to reach in a smack M. Thenardier and rescue Fantine. I loved Javert's honesty and integrity. I loved seeing Jean ValJean grow and how M. Myriel, the bishop buys Jean ValJean's soul. 

I would read this book again. There is so much in this book. Hugo was ahead of his time. He shows the dangers of a society that is so caught up in appearances, social structure, wealth, and the letter of the law above the spirit of the law. He shows what happens to women when they don't have a support system. There were many bit players in the novel that were well written that I loved them as well. I like the moral message of this book that we all must help and lift one another because that is the most important thing of all. 

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.

Another way to help our project is to purchase books from this Usborne link as we are currently using the hostess benefits to help buy books for the babies. You buy books that are delivered to your house for your children or grandchildren - or as baby shower gifts, and the hostess rewards help us get books for our NICU babies - a win win for all. 

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