Book Blurb: Dragon Slippers

She wanted dragon gold. She got a pair of shoes.

Many stories tell of damsels in distress, who are rescued from the clutches of fire-breathing dragons by knights in shining armor, and swept off to live happily ever after.

This is not one of those stories.

True, when Creel’s aunt suggests sacrificing her to the local dragon, it is with the hope that the knight will marry Creel and that everyone (aunt and family included) will benefit handsomely. Yet it’s Creel who talks her way out of the dragon’s clutches. And it’s Creel who walks for days on end to seek her fortune in the king’s city with only a bit of embroidery thread and a strange pair of slippers in her possession.

But even Creel could not have guessed the outcome of this tale. For in a country on the verge of war, Creel unknowingly possesses not just any pair of shoes, but a tool that could be used to save her kingdom…or destroy it.



About The Author

The Official Story           

Jessica Day George earned a BA in Humanities/Comparative Literature from Brigham Young University, where she enjoyed classes in Pottery and Old Norse, and dutifully forced herself to take Algebra and Biology. Originally from Idaho, she now resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, their young son, and a five pound Maltese named Pippin.

The Rest of the Story:

It's all about the books. Friends, family, school, "real jobs", they were just obstacles to be tackled so that I could return to my true love: books. All I have ever wanted in this world is to read and write books. My criteria for choosing a purse is that it must be able to fit a paperback book inside. I took books on my honeymoon, and bought more while we were there. I picked my major because it looked like I would get to read a lot of books, and also I thought it would provide me with interesting background information for my own books (which it did). From the time I was twelve on up, I told people that I wanted to be a writer. When they said, "So, you’ll teach and then maybe try to write a book?" I would just shake my head. No, I was a writer, and that was all I wanted to do. So over the years until I got published, I lived in Idaho, in New Jersey and Delaware, and in Utah, because it didn’t matter. I could read and write anywhere. I’ve worked at a wedding invitation factory (Bet you didn’t know they made them in big scary factories, did you?), at a video store (back at the birth of DVD), at libraries and bookstores, and even been an office lady at a school while I waited to get published. I knew that I would be published eventually, because . . . well, I just had to be.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I have other interests. I took eight years of German, four of Norwegian, and even studied Old Norse so that I could read the great Viking sagas in the original language. I knit like a maniac: hats, scarves, sweaters, dog sweaters, socks, felted purses, you name it. I play the piano and viola, love to travel and to watch movies.
But mostly, it's about the books.

Meeting Notes: The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever

Our meeting for The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever was a lot of fun.  We had a great time chatting about the book and why we did or didn't like it.  We were able to get four blankets together for the Dove center which will be donated along with the scarves and gloves the library has received.  It was nice to get together in the spirit of giving.

The books for January are as follows.  The Jr. group will be reading Meet Samantha an American Girl book by Susan Adler.  The Sr. Group will be reading Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George.  Both of the books are great and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Before I close, I would like to let everyone know that the meeting time for the clubs will be changing.  They will now be held on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm.  The Jr club will be the 2nd Wednesday and the Sr. club will be on the 4th Wednesday.   I hope this new times will make it so more people will have the opportunity to come to the meetings.

I'll see you there!

Gloria

Get Talking: The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever

Use 8 adjectives to describe the Herdman family.

Which Herdman is most like you? Why?

How do the Herdmans get to be in the pageant?

The Christmas pageant is a holiday tradition for the town in the book.  What are some holiday traditions you have?

What happens when the Herdmans bring their cat to Show and Tell?

What do you think should have been done about the Herdmans? Do you think it was fair for them to be in the pageant?

Have you ever gotten to perform in front of other people? Tell me about the experience.

Why do you think the Herdman's brought a ham to the baby Jesus?

Book Blurb The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever   
By: Barbara Robinson

The Herdmans are six scrawny children ( Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie and Gladys) who are notorious delinquents in their community. Among other things, they lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls!), swear, and hit little kids.

The story is narrated by Beth Bradley, a girl in Imogene Herdman's class. Beth's brother, Charlie, unwisely lies to Leroy Herdman, saying that he doesn't mind Leroy stealing his dessert at school because Charlie gets all the snacks he wants at Sunday School. This leads to all six Herdmans showing up at church the next Sunday for the first time in their lives.

Beth's mother is put in charge of the Christmas pageant when the original leader, Mrs. Helen Armstrong, fells and breaks her leg. The announcement for the auditions happens to be on the day the Herdmans show up at church, and, avid movie fans that they are, the Herdman's volunteer (and threaten) their way into all six of the main parts.

In spite of the Herdmans never having heard the Christmas story before (and wanting to change the script so they can hunt down the evil King Herod) and in spite of never making it through a complete rehearsal, the show must go on.




About the Author

I grew up in a southern Ohio river town--Portsmouth--and that small town atmosphere has affected most of my writing.

My mother, widowed when I was three years old, taught school for forty-nine years in that same small town, and her major (indeed, only) extravagance was books. I grew up with, and quickly adopted, the notion that reading was the only way to fill up every scrap of loose time you could snatch.

I had the benefit, as well, of a wide variety of aunts and uncles and cousins, plus the extended family so common to small-town life--the neighbors, friends, teachers, bus drivers, mailmen, local heroes and local neer-do-wells, and even a local blacksmith . . . great stuff to feed the imagination.

I began writing very early--poems, plays, stories--and just never quit. I attended local schools and then, being both bookstruck and stagestruck, found a college--Allegheny College--where I could satisfy both passions.
I've been a short story writer, with some forty to fifty stories in McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, etc.; a playwright; an occasional poet, and finally and most happily, an author of children's books . . . happily, because there's no greater audience than boys and girls who read books and demand that those books be the most exciting, the most mysterious, the most touching, the funniest . . . the best.

I live and write in a suburb of Philadelphia, and I have two daughters--Carolyn, who is a nurse, and Marjorie, who is a sixth grade teacher and at home now with my grandchildren Tomas and Marcos, and all these people read books like crazy!

Service Project Details

About this time every year, the Library sets up a large Christmas tree in the foyer.  But this is not your typical Christmas tree.  It is decorated only with a few lights and a random hat or scarf.  Then, almost if by magic, the hats and scarfs grow and multiply and some even turn into other things like mittens or socks.  We soon have an abundance of snug winter clothing enveloping the tree.  We harvest a few here and there, but the number keeps growing.  But what to do with this fabulous bounty?   The Library gives the wonderfully warming items to the Dove center who so lovingly provide a safe harbour to those in need.  The comfy gloves and scarfs then find homes with those who need them. 

I thought it would be fantastic if our service project we will be doing in conjunction with the December meeting became a part of that tradition, so we will be making fleece blankets to donate with the other items we recieve.  I'm excited for this meeting and hope that you will make time in your busy holiday schedule for us!
See you December 16 @ 3pm!

Gloria

Meeting Notes: Everything on a Waffle

Our last meeting for Everything on a Waffle was blast!  We snacked on mini-waffles topped with syrup, peanut butter, Nutella, yogurt and chicken salad.  It was all very tasty, even the chicken salad. While discussing the book, we talked about the differences between the various adults who took care of Primrose.  Uncle Jack was the favorite.  We also talked about what it's like when you believe something that no one else does.  It can be lonely, but it's better to stay true to yourself.

There are going to be some differences in our next meeting.  Because December seems to be such a busy month, I decided to combine the Junior and Senior chapters of the Mother Daughter Book Club.  Because of that I had to pick a book myself ahead of time so both groups will be reading the same book. I decided on...

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.  In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids - probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem - and the fun - when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!

I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I do.  It's a wonderful story to help you get the Holiday spirit.  We will meet on December 16, 2011 at 3:00 pm.  Along with the book discussion, we will be doing a small service project to help those in need.  I hope to see you there!


Gloria

Get Talking: Everything On A Waffle

Here are just a few questions to get you thinking.  Also, don't forget to bring your favorite or an unusual waffle topping to the meeting this week!  I look forward to seeing you there!

Primrose has many adults influencing her life. Which was your favorite and why?

What do you think about Primrose losing a finger and a toe? Do you think it is a symbol for anything?

Throughout the story Primrose asks the adults she meets if they have ever known anything deep inside without doubt. Some say they have but most do not. Do you ever know something that others don't believe?

"And at heart I was a pacifist. Well, not at heart. My mother says no one is a pacifist at heart. At heart, we’re all violent raging wolves, but in our actions we can be pacifists.” What do you think of this statement? Do you think that we are all violent and angry on the inside? Do you ever feel this way? And, if you do, do you show it or not?

Uncle Jack takes care of Primrose after her parents disappear. Why does he do this?

Do you think Miss Bowzer and Uncle Jack will become friends?

This book is full of recipes. Have you tried any of them? Do you want to?

After Primrose's parents are lost at sea, she lives with Miss Perfidy. What do you think of their friendship?

What would you like served on a waffle?

What do you predict for Primrose's future?

Book Blurb: Everything On a Waffle

Everything on a Waffle, tells the story of an eleven-year-old girl named Primrose Squarp. Primrose's parents disappear in a typhoon, but Primrose refuses to believe they are dead and doesn't attend their memorial service. 

While she defends her family's survival,her custody situation moves around from aging neighbor Miss Perfidy to her preoccupied uncle Jack. The only thing that remains constant is her enjoyment of a restaurant called the Girl on the Red Swing, where each menu item is served on a waffle. Restaurant owner Kate Bowzer takes Primrose under her wing. She teaches her how to cook (recipes are all cited in a notepad) She doesn't question or criticize her, even through her odd predicaments, such as accidentally setting the class guinea pig on fire.

Primrose is taken from the custody of her uncle "Uncle Jack" to an older couple. While she likes them, she is involved in a variety of accidents. Through her oddities and accidents, Primrose becomes a town curiosity, with neighbors questioning her emotional state. But even through all of this, Primrose never gives up hope in finding her parents and being a normal family again.

About the author

Polly Horvath grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She went to college at the Canadian College of Dance in Toronto, studying with the Royal Academy of Dance and later becoming an R.A.D. teacher.
After graduation, she lived in New York City and Montreal before settling  in Metchosin, British Columbia, with her husband, Arnie Keller, and their two daughters, Emily and Rebecca. They have a dog, Andrew, and a horse, Zayda. They live on a hilltop with an assortment of deer, rabbits, two ducks who visit their pond daily—and the occasional cougar and bear.
Polly Horvath has written many books for children that have won awards in both the United States and Canada including a Newbery Honor, National Book Award and The Vicky Metcalf award for her body of work. Her books have been picks of both Rosie O'Donnell and Oprah amd have been translated into over twenty five languages.