Halloween is coming

It's getting closer.  That time of year when you can pretend to be somebody/ something else and get rewarded by candy.  And have parties.  (Can't forget the parties.)

 

(picture courtesy of I am invited to a party!  by Mo Willems)

What will be your costume this year?

Whatever it is -- Have fun!

It's Read Across America Day!

Every year Dr. Seuss' birthday is celebrated by Read Across America Day.
Check out the links on this post at Elizabeth O. Dulemba's blog for links to activities and printables.

Mouseland

Each month I learn new things about my fellow students at Vermont College.

One of my classmates is named Ariel. Really! And she would be perfect working in Disneyland as Ariel -- my granddaughters would LOVE her. Did I mention that Ariel is a Disneyland fan, herself?

Secondly, another student is writing a blog called "My Year with the Mouse" -- all about Disneyland. Click on over and enjoy all the fun -- and the helpful tips she give about taking children to Disneyland.

(Hey, the above two people even go to Disneyland WITHOUT children!)

-wo

Halloween

Today is Halloween.
(History, fun facts, and plans for a Halloween party can be found in this book.)
But I degress.

You wouldn't know Halloween had finally arrived if you had been watching the 10-year-old the past few weeks. She's been wearing her costume to various Halloween events for some time now.
A Girl Scout troop Halloween party.
A Halloween party at our UU Meeting House.
Halloween parade at school.
Halloween parade (and fun events) at her friend's community party last evening.
And NOW -- the big event -- going Trick-or-Treating with friends.

What costume did she choose?
She created her own SITH costume. (not Jedi. nope. She's going as young Darth Vader.)

She found her mother's dress riding boots, (those that go up to the knees and have lacing at the ankle)
Her legs either are covered with brown tights or dark jeans, depending on the event. (indoor or out)
Her chest has three layers.
The part that shows is a white longish garment with full sleeves, covered by a brown (her mother's old Air Force) tshirt.
Her face only has a little of the red Sith stripes -- it is, after all, the younger Darth Vader of early Star Wars 3.
And her hair? covered with her red Arial wig.
Why red?
Beats me.

Today she's going to Trick-or-Treat with boys. Every one of them is a geek and will be dressed as some sort of computer game warrior, so she fits right in with them. (yes, several parents will be going along with them.)

What are you -- or your kids -- going to do for Halloween?

Nonfiction authors signing at ALA

Remember the announcement earlier about the Nonfiction Book Blast I'll be part of on Sunday (yikes -- THIS Sunday) at ALA?
Well a good portion of the panel will also be signing at various publisher's booths that same Sunday.

Here's a list. I hope it's complete. If any panel member discovers their signing time is missing, please mention it in the comments and I'll add it to this message:

 
Book Signing Times for Nonfiction BookBlast Authors at ALA
 All are Sunday, July 12

Bowman-Kruhm, Mary.  The Leakeys: A Biography. Promethesus Books. _____________
 
Halls, Kelly Milner, Tales of the Cryptids, Learner booth #1411, 12:15.
Halls, Kelly Milner: Dinosaur Parade, Sterling booth #1516, 3:30.
 
Kummer, Patricia K. The Great Barrier Reef and The Great Lakes. Nature's Wonders series.  Marshall Cavendish, booth 4315, 1:00-2:00.
 
Macken, JoAnn Early. Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move.  Holiday House, booth #2138, 1:30.
 
McClafferty, Carla Killough.  In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry.  Farrar, Straus and Giroux booth #1811, 12:30 -1:30.
 
Old, Wendie.  The Halloween Book of Facts and FunAlbert.  Albert Whitman booth #2123, 2:00 - 3:00.
Old, Wendie.  The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun.  Albert Whitman booth #2123 2:00 - 3:00.
 
Sayer, April Pulley.  Honk, Honk, Goose: Canada Geese Start a Family. Henry Holt booth #1816, 2:00 – 3:00.
Sayer, April Pulley.  Trout Are Made of Trees.  Charlesbridge booth #1627, 4:00 – 5:00.
 
Taylor-Butler, Christine.  Sacred Mountain: Everest.  Lee and Low Books, booth #2260, 11:00 - 12:00 July 11, and 1:00 - 2:00.
 
Wohan, Becky.  Follow That Food Chain.  Lerner Publishing Group booth #1411, 12:15.

See you at ALA
-wendie old