Favorite Childhood Books and The Book Swap

Today is the last post for the Preview to Summer Book Swap, and the theme is favorite childhood reads.  This time I'll be linking up with Nina from Run Dance Love.  I also get to share the goodies I got in the book swap!
My partner is from the blog Blair's Head Band.  If you're in the mood for a little snark and a good laugh, you definitely need to go check her out!  She's all the way across the country in New York, she's getting married in the fall, and she is pretty brilliant at speaking her mind and kind of saying what a lot of us have thought at one time or another (as witnessed here).

This was my first ever swap, and it was great.  I got two books that I can't wait to start reading- Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, and Ali Wentworth's Ali in Wonderland.  She also gave me a sweet little New York notebook and a little bag from the famous New York book store the Strand.

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Big thanks to M for all my goodies!  You really helped make this such a great experience, and while I apologize again for the tinsel in your package, if it kept the books from being soaked in champagne, then it did its job!  

Now, on to the link up.  My favorite childhood reads...

First, I'll start by saying that when I was little, I wasn't a big reader, much to the disappointment of my Mom.  She would take us to the library on a regular basis, hoping to spark something.  It wasn't until 4th grade when  my teacher read The Westing Game to us that I really wanted to read on my own.  I was hooked- I even got my Mom to take me to the library so I could finish the book early. (And then tell my classmates how it ends.  Hey, they asked!)

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So that book really got me to love reading on my own.  If we are talking little kid books, though, then The Pokey Little Puppy was always a fave.  

I also read The Chronicles of Narnia every summer when we went on our annual beach trip.  But I will only read them in the original order. None of this nonsense that Lewis' stepson used to change the order to match the book's chronological order. 

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A Little Princess and The Secret Garden were also favorites, along with Babysitter's Club.

So what were some of your childhood favorites?  I could add more... Mr. Popper's Penguins, all of the Ramona books...

I hope you have a great week, made sweeter by the fact that it is short!

Won't You be My Neighbor?

<center> <br><a href="http://desertgirlsvintage.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Desert Girls Vintage" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnYNySVe114lMYwM90uFcnzP1hjEBe21ZpslTqnd6nbL27xuh79CfBvdh9WFcDhtNXEOvTJIyWToJBVjJaKK66uKUqRxAqQ9sgfWt0tLFViuOhdjuvxKabevdas4XaotDgpYmXHaTsUm4/s400/book%2520swap.jpg"/></a></center> <br>

On Friday, after returning from a field trip to the Ronald Reagan Library (where my students were amazing, I must say!), the Cat and I ran a couple of errands, which included ducking into Marshall's for a return and a quick look around.  This trip happened to be pretty productive.  Sadly, no new clothes for either myself or the Cat, but I did find a couple of prints for my bedroom (and Rebecca approves!  Hooray!), a small vial of powdery glitter (you should always have glitter in your house, right?), and a couple of books.  Oh, and some bath mats, but that's kind of boring.  Soft, fluffy, boring bath mats that were on clearance, 2 for $12.  They are the best bath mats ever, so I am a happy girl.

Anyway.  I also got a couple of books.  Oh, and some stationery.  (I did say this was a productive trip, right?)

So, the books I got were a little random.  One is a collection of quotes from one Mr. Fred Rogers, whom I love.  When my little AlliCat was little, she loved watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, and I loved watching it with her.  In the aftermath of the attack on Boston, many of my friends posted a wonderful Fred Rogers' quote on facebook, which I'm sure you've seen but I'll post anyway.

Source: thesilverpen.com via Sharon on Pinterest

I can't wait to thumb through my new book of quotes. I think it will be well worth the $2!
The other book I bought is The Cocktail: 200 Fabulous Drinks by Jane Rocca.  I had seen this book before and was drawn to it because, hello, cocktails! , but also because of the artwork in the book.
The illustrations are done by Australian artist Kat Macleod.  She works with mixed media, and really brings an added flair to the drink recipes.

buy it here

Here are some more examples of her work.

Luggage Set

Dumpling

Traveller

These pieces, along with others, are for sale at Lamington Drive.

Maybe this weekend I'll get to test out at least one recipe from the cocktail book.  I can sip my drink while reading through some quotes by Mr. Rogers.  It'll be a really beautiful day in the neighborhood then.

Oh, and there is still time to sign up for our book swap!  This is such a fun way to connect with other bloggers, share a little something you love, and receive a little something back.  

Have a great weekend!