Sunday, November 22, 2009

Day 8 - The 12 Days of Christmas Cookies & Giveaway

Welcome to Day 8 of the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Today is Kathy's day to post a recipe for Pecan Balls, but I wanted to celebrate by giving away some books!

First up is a very-gently read HORSE DIARIES: BELL'S STAR by Alison Hart and illustrated by Ruth Sanderson. I thoroughly enjoyed BELL'S STAR (you can read my review here) and I think it would make an excellent gift for the upcoming holiday season. In addition to BELL'S STAR, I have a very-gently read copy of a MG/YA mystery book called SHADOW HORSE also by Alison Hart. I really liked SHADOW HORSE too, but I haven't gotten around to writing my review yet!

To enter the giveaway for both books, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me something you found interesting in Ms. Hart's Book Club Exchange Post. To increase your chances, you can blog and/or tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post. This contest will be open until Friday, November 27th at 11:59 p.m. ET, and I will notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses only -- no p.o. boxes please. Good luck!

Summary: Vermont, 1850s Bell’s Star is a brown Morgan colt with a white star and two white stockings. He was bred for hard work, yet he longs to run free with his human friend, Katie, on his back. But when Star helps rescue a runaway slave girl, his ideas about freedom may change forever. Here is Star’s story . . . in his own words. With exciting and knowledgeable text and lovely black-and-white art throughout—both by real horse owners—Horse Diaries are the perfect fit for all lovers of horses and history! -- Random House Kids

Summary: Horses + mystery + rescuing abused animals = a triple crown of perpetually popular preteen genres! Thirteen-year-old Jasmine is found guilty of assaulting Hugh Robicheaux, the owner of the horse farm where she works. But she's still determined to prove that Robicheaux killed Whirlwind, the mare she loved. Jas is sure that Shadow Horse, a scrawny brown gelding she rescues at a horse auction, is the key to the mystery—but just how is Shadow Horse connected to Whirlwind? Deftly written by a teacher and equestrian who has authored more than sixty books, this heartwarming and inspiring Edgar Award nominee will have special appeal for mystery fans as well as young horse lovers. -- Random House

10 comments:

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, doll. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

Karlie said...

I can't believe that 1/3 of h.s. students never read another book! Thanks for the contest.

Vanessa S. said...

The statistics shock and sadden me! Coming from a family of book lovers it is hard to comprehend. I like that DD is involved in a book club, but most likely wouldn't have been without seeing her Mom in one. It starts at the top - parents have the ability to influence their children and provide the library membership early on!

Jonnie (JB) said...

The fact that 80% of families didn't buy or read a book last year is shocking
dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Henderson said...

I can't believe the statistics on book buying. When my kids were at home I was always buying them books and I buy books for myself all the time. My daughters and I are big readers.

seriousreader at live dot com

traveler said...

An interesting and thought provoking post. I find it hard to believe the stats, but the influence of computers, ipods, cell phones etc. is strong upon the young. Thanks for this giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Gwendolyn B. said...

I can't imagine life without books, so those statistics really stun me. Everyone in my family is a reader. I think going through life without reading would be like never drinking water -- it's that vital! I particularly liked Ms. Hart's suggestion of forming a Book Club at school. I think lots of kids who are not otherwise "joiners" would join a book club.

Thanks for the chance to win these books. There's several girls in my family who would enjoy them!

geebee.reads AT gmail dOT com

Winning Readings said...

Never used the word "aliteracy" before!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Winning Readings said...

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings:
http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/horse-diaries-bells-star.html

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Julie said...

I never would have guessed that 80 percent of families did not buy books or read them. We are a family of 5 who love to read. I have read/bought my kids books since they were newborns-still buying them books.I can't imagine a life without reading -how sad

aunteegem@yahoo.com