Yes, We Can!

Halloween is over and that means the holiday shopping season is here. I think about all of the families that are planning on cutting back on their holiday shopping, mine included. Then I think about all of the families that are already struggling and wondering how Santa can possibly visit their homes this year. Can we help all these families when we are struggling ourselves? As our new president elect says, “Yes, we can!!”.

Every author, illustrator, and publisher of children’s and young adult’s books, I urge you to donate even one copy of your book to a program in your area that is collecting books and toys for children in need. If you don’t know, ask your local independent bookseller – they will be able to point you in the right direction. If all else fails, send them to BayShore Books and they will put your books in the hands of the children who will most appreciate them.

Business men and women, your community is what makes your business possible. This is the time to support them. Adopt a family, collect food from your employees to donate to your local food bank, send your management team on a shopping spree at your local book or toy store for gifts to donate. You will be boosting the economy in your home town while helping those in need.

Moms, dads and grandparents, think about if it were your children and grandchildren who will be waking up disappointed this holiday season. When you shop for the children in your family this year, pick up an extra gift for a child not fortunate enough to have parents or grandparents who are able to give them more than the necessities. And don’t forget the teenagers – the most forgotten age group this time of year.

Think about what kind of holiday season this will be if each and every one of us spent as little as $10 to purchase a gift or a meal for a total stranger. Think about how that meal or gift would affect us if we were the one desperately trying to show our children there is something worth celebrating. Together I know we can make this the best holiday season ever! “Yes, we can!”

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

Happy Halloween! I came up with the perfect costume. My focus was more on family this year rather than literary . What represents family closeness and fun more than ‘smores? My daughter the chocolate and my son the marshmallow would be protected by my husband and I as the graham crackers. Unfortunately, the kids who are now 15 and 17 informed us they have their own plans and if they see us out trick or treating they will beat us up and take our candy. So much for family closeness.

(CC) Larry D. Moore

My day will not be completely shot, though. At least The Guardian kept me entertained with this literary witches quiz. Can you beat my 7 out of 13? I blame my score on memory since I believe I’ve read most if not all of the works cited.

How about you?

Do you have a favorite horror story or spooky tale?

It's Not Nice to Play Favorites

If you stopped in at BayShore Books this week I’m sure you noticed a mess in the back. With any luck our latest project will be complete by the end of the weekend. Of course we aren’t known for our abundance of luck. I promise, the new shelves will be up by the time you are ready to begin your holiday shopping for sure! Maybe not. I received our first holiday order today. If my favorite customers let me know they are placing an order for a gift, I am more than happy to have their order wrapped and ready for pick up within a few days. Are you one of my favorites that qualify for free gift wrapping? There is only one way to find out– place your order today and let me know if you are ordering gifts!

I’m not ready to think about Christmas yet. Let me get through Halloween first! Not that I have much choice – the holiday orders have been arriving for weeks already. It’s not too late to order more, though. So…

What gifts are you hoping to give and/or receive this holiday season?

If you help me out by following the BayShore Blog I promise not to begin playing the holiday music for at least another week!

To Bee or Not to Bee

The Secret Life of Bees opens today. Great book, but does that mean great movie? I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its movie”. There have been plenty of movies based on books that I have enjoyed immensely, though. The Notebook had me weeping as much through the film as the book and I can say the same about The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I saw both of those on TV years after reading the books, so maybe that makes a difference. The DaVinci Code had me captivated in book form…the movie? Not so much.

What about you?

Do you look forward to movies based on your favorite books or do you stay away?

Will you see the movie before or after reading the book?
	Never - the movie can not compare!
	I will see the movie if I enjoyed the book.
	I will read the book if I enjoyed the movie.
	Only years later while curled up on the couch eating bon bons and watching LifeTime.
	Other - explain under comments.
pollcode.com free polls

Follow Me!

Blogspot has added a new gadget called Followers. It's similar to Twitter in that you can become a follower of BayShore Blog and it'll let me know that someone is at least reading it. You can join either with your google account or anonymously and you'll know when I update the blog. Since this was just added, at the moment the followers list shows a great big zero. Is there anything more depressing than that?? Even if you are already a follower on Twitter or a friend on IndieBound , Shelfari , Goodreads, Library Thing , JacketFlap, LinkedIn, MySpace, ShoutLife or Facebook, please follow BayShore Blog!

1,000 (or less) Things To Do (in Oconto) Before You Rest (or Crash)

This weekend will be the weekend of all weekends in Oconto!

Today we start out with the homecoming parade and then the game against Mishicot – Go Blue Devils!! Tonight is also opening night for The Machickanee Players in which my husband plays the part of our eldest son. His character bears a strong resemblance to my son anyway.

Saturday, after wrapping up Banned Book Week by testing your knowledge , it’s time for the Harvest Festival and Balloons Across America Celebration. Food, arts and crafts, children’s activities, what more could you ask for? The Business Scavenger Hunt, of course! This gives everyone a chance to check out all the local businesses and win great prizes. During the scavenger hunt, stop in to meet Margaret W. Jones, Ph.D. visiting all the way from Massachusetts to discuss bullying and sign copies of her new release, Not of My Making . This will give you a chance to warm up with a coffee or cocoa! The second Machickanee Players show and the homecoming dance wrap up Saturday’s events.

Sunday while the teens are sleeping off the excitement of the night before, this gives you the opportunity to see the matinee of God’s Favorite by Neil Simon and curl up with a good book. The Lucky One is my book of choice this week, how about you?

No, You Can't Read That!

Not long ago a mother and daughter were browsing through the teen book club shelf where the daughter, who must have been 15 or 16, found something that caught her interest. After reading the back of Story of a Girl she handed it to her mother who promptly said "No!" and placed it back on the shelf.

Tomorrow begins Banned Books Week and my opinion on banning books has always been that only a parent has the right to decide what their children may read – not teachers or librarians, booksellers or other parents. I have heard many stories from fellow booksellers about irate parents who marched their teenager back into the bookstore to return a recently purchased book they didn’t approve of. The booksellers got an earful for selling such a book to the impressionable angel they view their child to be. If a child is old enough to walk into a bookstore alone, choose a book, pay for it and leave, the parent obviously feels he/she is old enough to make her/his own decisions. How can that parent honestly be upset at the bookseller for not doing the parent’s job for them? Who are we to decide what your child is capable of handling?

Back to the parent that wouldn’t allow her high school student read Story of a Girl, which is about a thirteen year old who was caught having sex with an older boy by her father and how that affected her life. This parent has every right to make this decision for her daughter. Obviously I believe this story is suitable for someone of her age since I allowed our teen book club to choose it. In fact, they choose many books this particular parent does not approve of. However, I think they make wonderful choices. After reading Crank a long discussion ensued about teen drug use and these kids were very open and honest. Not a discussion most would have with their parents or teachers.

There was a conversation between booksellers about which books to recommend to boys to get them to read more. One bookseller stated she simply has to place a book into his hands and whisper, “your mother wouldn’t approve”. Of course, the comment was made in jest, but it does prove a point.

Celebrate your freedom to read this week by picking up one of the

top 100 challenged books in 2000-2007