Grateful for Grace (Lin)

On Thursday we were honored to have Grace Lin visit our Library.  She taught our first and second graders about the publishing process from idea to published book (which most guessed took, oh, approximately two days) and read to us from her books Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat.  She was gracious, energetic, and made a lot of dreams come true, to be sure.

Thank you, Ms. Lin!  What a fitting time of year for your visit; we are so thankful for the opportunities we have to meet wonderful authors and illustrators like you!

In the Dining Room: Sunday Book Brunch

Sundays are a time for reading in my house:  the New York Times, New York Magazine, a few Virginia Readers' Choice selections, and perhaps an US Weekly to keep up with royals.

Here are a few online treats, update throughout the day, to go with your Sunday brunch.

:: Grace Lin is offering paper dolls to go with her new Ling & Ting books, which, by the way made the New York Times Best 2010 Notable Books for Children.  I have yet to get my hot little hands on them, but they are winging their way to my library as we speak.  I'll just have to arm-wrestle my students for them.

:: Cheerios cereal is at it again with their Spoonful of Stories program.  We picked up our copy of All the World, a Caldecott honor book, in our most recent box.  I had no idea that the Spoonful of Stories program was so elaborate; they even sponsor a new authors contest!  Visit the website for book trailers and more!

:: If you have not caught on to Etsy, now is the time.  I'm loving this print.