It’s been a whole year, to the day, since my first and last blog post.  I don’t know where the time went!  I’m looking forward to more time posting about great books from now on…..

I thought I’d start out my 2019 book blogging by featuring a Middle Grade favorite series – the “Mo & Dale Mystery” series by Sheila Turnage:  Three Times Lucky, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, The Odds of Getting Even, and The Law of Finders Keepers.  (Such great titles!)  I am re-reading this series by reading the books out loud to my 6^th Grader.  Actually, I’ll only be re-reading 3 of the books….the 4^th I’ll read for the first time.  Even though the last one in the series came out in September of 2018, I haven’t been able to get myself to read it, as I don’t want the world of Mo & Dale and Tupelo Landing to come to an end!

I started Three Times Lucky last night and was laughing out loud, with my eyes watering from laughter, only a few pages into the first chapter.  The first time I read the book, I remember trying to underline my favorite metaphors, similes, and sassy Mo comments, but I ended up underlining so much that each page seemed to be covered in ink.  At that point, I had to make a conscious decision to stop underlining and start focusing on just enjoying the wonderful personalities of the citizens of Tupelo Landing.  I also remember reading it on an airplane, laughing out loud despite strange looks from my fellow passengers.  These books are such fun reads!

I am looking forward to more laughs alongside Mo & Dale and friends!

I love all books, but still especially children’s books!  Growing up, the highlight of every school year for me was the annual Book Fair and the authors (Jean Craighead George, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Florence Parry Heide, Lorna Balian...) who would come to visit with students.  I also have very fond memories of Saturday trips with my father to Jeannette Schaefer’s bookshop on Milwaukee’s East side.  And I adored my subscription to Cricket Magazine!

I still live surrounded by books.  My children do as well.  And we love to share our passion for them.  We will do that here, in this space.