favorite firsts

One of my daughter's friends just read Moby Dick. Which, upon saying the words Moby Dick made my brain immediately respond: "Call me Ishmael."


I live for a good first sentence. When I pick up a new book, I don't always judge it by its cover... I judge it by its first sentence.


Here are some of my all time favorites:


In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (obviously)


"Where's Papa going with that axe?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. - E.B. White, Charlotte's Web


I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. - R.J. Palacio, Wonder


It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice


Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. - Charles Dickens, David Copperfield


All this happened, more or less. - Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five


The circus arrives without warning. - Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus (which I love because the book ends as it began... oops, I've said too much already!)


Do you have any favorite first lines?

the greatest thief who ever lived

Today, a funny thing happened... one of my books was returned to me by the librarian at school... a twist of the usual. It was Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier.


It's a great story, if you haven't read it yet... of a ten year old blind boy who has been schooled in the art of thievery. 


The first sentence is: "Now, for those of you who know blind children, you are aware that they make the very best thieves."


There is adventure and sword fights and monsters and magic.

Professor Cake's Island

tough, confident Peg

The Vanished Kingdom

"Of course, the age of great thievery has long since passed; today there are few children thieves left, blind or otherwise. At one time, however, the world was simply thick with them. This is the story of the greatest thief who ever lived. His name, as you've probably guessed, is Peter Nimble."


I hope the librarian read this book, she would have loved it.

time invested

Despite its massive 500+ pages, H finished the book Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke.

Phew... it was the longest book he has read. 

It's worn and "dog-eared" (which I had to explain means "affected by wear, damaged by long use") It looks just the way a good book should... well loved. 


What's the longest book you have read that was worth the journey?

from zero to hero

H just finished the book, Big Nate Goes For Broke. 

He loved it and can't wait for me to read it. He has loved the whole Big Nate series... and I love anything that kindles his love of books. (Have I said 'love' enough?!)

In Big Nate Goes For Broke, Nate starts a new club at school - The Doodlers. They are a comic strip club, but they need to recruit some girls... let the mishaps begin!


Create your own Big Nate comics with this iPad app .





To read an excerpt or play games, go to Big Nate Books.

imaginative

From the book 

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire!

by Mrs. Bunny, translated from Rabbit by Polly Horvath

illustrated by Sophie Blackall

unshelved

one fish, two fish, red fish...

I just downloaded this book tonight... Bluefish by Pat Schmatz.
Here's what I can tell you, it's going to be a late night.


"Thirteen-year-old Travis has a secret: he can't read. But a shrewd teacher and a sassy girl are about to change everything in this witty and deeply moving novel."


Eighth-graders Travis (Bluefish) and Vida (Velveeta) are two unlikely friends, both hiding secrets.


Courage and kindness, redemption and forgiveness... and references to The Book Thief... are just a few of the reasons I am loving this book.