Karen’s Book Nook

I always read all of James Patterson’s books and I’ve had this one for awhile. I’ll be able to blow through it in one or two sittings though since his work is usually a super quick read. The 6th Target is part of the Women’s Murder Club series.

Visual Supports for People with Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Marlene J. Cohen and Donna L. Sloan is chock full of examples of graphic organizers and tools for visual learners. People with Autism benefit greatly from picture supports and as a special educator I’m always looking for more ideas.

The Elements of Organic Gardening by HRH The Prince of Wales this is a full color coffee table style book that I’m anxious to read and peruse. I’ve already planted my garden and look forward to its nice organic bounty this summer.

I downloaded The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo via audio book as part of my quest to make it through all of the remaining Newbery Medal winners on my TBR list. I’ve got some sewing to do this weekend and I’ll listen while I work.

This is the first book that I’m reading for the Heard it Through the Grapevine Challenge. It’s Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen, the author of Water for Elephants (which I read this winter and enjoyed.)  It’s currently past due at the library and was a hold so I’m hoping to blow through it in record time so I can return it.

I found this one, A Girl Named Zippy: Growing up in Mooreland, Indiana while browsing through the online audio books and the cover caught my eye. I’ve never read Haven Kimmel before so I’m giving it a try. This memoir is read by the author.

I just finished the audio book, Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry and discovered that although I can’t transfer the audio to an Apple product, I can transfer to my iriver. (Unfortunately, the iriver is stuck in record mode and will need to be replaced before training camp, but I did find an old Sandisk mp3 player in a drawer that works fine for this purpose.) So, I won’t be limited to listen on my desktop pc but can take it with me. After all.. that IS the purpose of an audio book, IMO. (Looks like my podcast queue will grow even larger and I’ll get further behind but I’m in the mood to read so it’s fine with me.

I just downloaded the third book in the trio, Messenger and expect that it’ll be just as good as The Giver and Gathering Blue. Anyone who has not tried good children’s literature should give it a whirl. Some of my favorite books have been Newbery Medal Winners that I’ve read as an adult.

Last night was the final webcast of Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth but I’m not putting the book aside. This one needs some re-reading and intense digestion. I really need to not just read and learn but apply some of his practices… I’m forever multi-tasking and I need to learn to be more present.

I downloaded the audio book Gathering Blue from my local library. This is a sequel to Lois Lowry’s The Giver, perhaps the most read book among teacher candidates while in college taking reading methods. I’ll listen between podcasts and everything else I’m reading/listening to. (Unfortunately, it can only be downloaded to PC not Mac so I have to listen on my desktop computer and can’t transfer to my iPod.)

I didn’t get nearly as much reading in as I would have liked last month due to being busy with the Assessment, setting up this blog and other things but I did manage to squeak out a few, mostly on April school vacation. The assessment is due this coming week so hopefully May will be better for me!

• A Perfect Day (Richard Paul Evans)
• The Locket (Richard Paul Evans)
  
• Aquamarine (Alice Hoffman)
• Good Dog. Stay. (Anna Quindlen)
• Merle’s Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog (Ted Kerasote)

Thought I would finish Wicked but alas kept falling asleep and didn’t make it until this morning.