4/17/09

Edited Repost: Make Way For Ducklings






Make Way For Ducklings: First published in 1941, this 1942 Caldecott Medal winner and Massachusetts State book, is still delighting an audience of children and adults today. Robert McCloskey’s gentle prose and award winning illustrations magically capture the true essence of parental birds in flight.

The reader is quickly drawn into Mr. and Mrs. Mallard's search for the perfect place to raise their family. The books double page spread illustrations invite you to view the world from the Mallards point of view, which adds to the realism of a perfectly paced plot. Hence, within the first few pages, the reader joins the Mallard family's flight over houses and farms as they make their way toward the magnificent city of Boston.

However, while flying over the city, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard cannot agree on the perfect place to stop and investigate their surroundings, so they continue flying until they are exhausted, and must agree to stop on an island in the middle of the Boston Public Garden.



The following day, the couple swam and fished in the pond, strolled along the bank, and were generally happy with the garden. However, due to public activity in the park, Mrs. Mallard began to feel uncomfortable with the area, and wanted to search for a more suitable nesting environment.

Hence, the Mallards take off again, flying over the many landmarks of Boston, until they finally find a home in close proximity to the Garden where their offspring can hatch.



The Mallards like their new home close to the pond, where they form a friendship with a man named Michael, who showers them with a constant supply of peanuts. However, after Mrs. Mallard lays her eggs in the nest, she cannot visit Michael until her babies hatch. Although, we see Michael again when he proves to be both a hero and a trusted friend, in addition to the entire city of Boston.

Robert McCloskey’s warm-heartened portrayal of these parents is the backbone of this classic in addition to its articulately written prose and truthful illustration. The Mallards are devoted to their offspring and spend a good deal of time teaching them how to live safely in the world. You are convinced you can trust them and like them instantly. I fell in love with the ducks and snuggled with them in flight twice on my couch in one afternoon.

The prose is poetic, the plot is wonderfully paced and the illustrations are vividly drawn, thereby depicting a true duck family living a happy and prosporous life in Boston.


Although written for ages 4-8, the book is one of the best picture books to read aloud to a young audience according to many reviews.

.
Make Way For Ducklings was designated the official book of the State of Massachusetts in 2003.


Feel free to leave book review requests in comments.

Or e-mail me at annclemmons@hotmail.com

Authors note: I wrote the original Book review for Make Way For Ducklings in July of 2007, and it continues to attract many readers a day. Therefore, we I saw the links to it today, I decided to re-read it. Then, I decided it needed a good edit. (Smile) I don't how my book review remained popular after all this time, other than the fact that it's written about this timeless classic.

I read somewhere that there is a statue of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their off-spring in The Boston Public Garden, which doesn't surprise me. Anyway, the old book review is still posted, because I didn't want to break the link, but I hope you will enjoy this one as well, in addition I wanted to share the book with my new readers.

And as always, thanks for reading.

4/13/09

The Friendly Blogger And Zombie Chicken Awards




Sandee at Comedy Plus nominated me for not one, but two, ultimately fabulous awards. The first is The 2009 Friendly Blogger Award from Colleen at Short Stories in the Making.

Don't you love this awards design? And what an honor it is to receive it from one of the coolest bloggers in the blogosphere. Thank you Sandee! ( I rarely use exclamation points. I keep them in reserve for special bloggers like you.)

Click because there's more to come...

The Second Award from my buddy Sandee at Comedy Plus is the (get ready for this one, folks.) The Zombie Chicken Award, passed to Sandee from Sandi at Nothing Off Limits
Although this award may seem silly, I would advice you to take it seriously... You'll see what I mean after you read the rules...thank you again, Sandee, I'm truly honored.


The rules of the zombie chicken say...
"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…"

Do you see what I mean? First, let me say how honored I am, (as any writer would be) to receive an award that contains these silly heartwarming words, "their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words."

I feel like framing it and hanging it on my wall..no kidding....

I took my time in choosing the following recipients for both of these incredible awards, because of how special they are, in addition, I didn't want to risk the wrath of zombie chickens if I didn't "choose wisely."


(I'm sorry I haven't the slightest idea how or why The Disobedient Chicken who lives in my sidebar is... excuse me, "Not where she belongs. Pardon me, little chicken..." Oh, forget it, just ignore her, she is not an award.

Alright, I nominate the following blogger's for both of these ultra cool awards:

(Some of these bloggers may have already received this award, but I wanted to express the way I feel about their content, as well as their friendship; so, they'll have two awards. Hey, you can have two Academy Awards...so there-

Congratulations to the following:



Bev at Merry Weather
Ettarose at Sanity On Edge
Sandee at Comedy Plus and Blogging By Sandee
Dawn at Twisted Sister


Eric/Speedy at The Speedcat Hollydale Page

Maunie at Mauniejames 2

Daisy (and Harley too) at Daisy The Curly Cat

Babs at Beetle's Memories 'N' Ramblings
Grace at Hugz Before You Go...
The Retired One at The Retirement Chronicles

Marie at Nourish: Living, Laughing, Whining

Mother Maitri at Maitri's Heart

Girlie Geek at girliegeek
Bud at WTIT: The Radio Blog


I could go on and on, and I'm sorry that I went overboard, but there are so many bloggers out there that fit in both of these award categories that I couldn't stop. If your name is not listed here, it's probably due to the fact that I have another award in mind for you.

While I was out, I was blessed enough to receive many awards that I haven't had a chance to pass along...Therefore, I decided to have an awards day every Monday in an effort to post each and every one of them. I'm grateful to all of you who have acknowledged my work, thus, if your blog is not listed here, I didn't forget you. Remember, every Monday will be awards day on A Nice Place In The Sun for some time-

Congratulations and forgive me for passing out more than five awards...Oh ...I hope that doesn't mean I will have to brave a raving pack of zombie chickens- I wonder if that is why the Disobedient Chicken is hanging around...Do you suppose she is has been assigned some sort of chicken watch?

4/7/09

What impossible daydreams, thoughts, or ideas did you have when you were a child? (Tuesday's Question)






What impossible daydreams, thoughts, or ideas did you have when you were a child? I mean ideas that you actually believed could come true or were true. For example, since I grew up in the sixties, I had many friends who believed aliens would kidnap them, and I believed something similar, but my beliefs were more of a personal nature.

My father was a police officer who was often late coming home at night, so if I was still awake, I would listen to him open the refrigerator and fumble around for something to eat, as I sat on my bed prepared for whatever the intruder dressed as my Dad may have planned for our family.

As a result, I was often asked to leave the breakfast table the following morning for glaring at him with suspicious looks.

Now, I 'm left to imagine what my poor father thought about the sudden change in my disposition on the mornings after his shift at work.


Since my father wasn’t home much he was a mystery to me, therefore, I envisioned him a fraud, or some sort of impostor, an explanation that suits me today, although, when I was a child, I thought, “What is wrong with me?”

What I didn’t know then, is that children have a hard time articulating their emotions; thus, they invent other ways of facing their demons. That’s why I thought this may be a good question, considering all of us were once children, and at one time believed the unbelievable and imagined the inconceivable; a gift not lost to many of us adults, but that’s another post.

Nevertheless, this Tuesday’s Question asks about the impossible daydreams, ideas, and beliefs you experienced when you were a child. I bet this question will be funny, as well as wipe the dust from windows that have been closed for a long time.




Note to first time visitors to Tuesday's Question.
If you've already participated in Tuesday's Question, you can skip this part.

If this is the first you've read or heard of Tuesday's Question, please note that I'm glad you're here. All participates answers are published (along with a link to their site) within Tuesday's Question's post and you don't have to own a blog to participate.

All you have to do is write your answer in comments and I will publish your comment along with your name. Just leave everything to me~ :0
Everyone's answers will be posted as quickly as possible throughout the day with a link to the participating blogger's blogs, therefore, don't forget to stop by and visit the blogger's who commented.

Chances are, if you liked a blogger's answer, you will also enjoy reading their blog.
Have Fun, and don't forget, Tuesday's Question is a weekly post of original questions, link love, and friendship, so jump in and let us know your answer. You can read the answers throughout the day by clicking "Read More"



4/6/09

Music Monday: A Rockin Good Way To Mess Around And Fall In Love


Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.



Click to subscribe!

Today's Popular Children's Picture Books

Today's Popular Children's Picture Books
Click on the titles below for the link to Publishers Weekly.com

The Boogeyman From Planet-Lackawanna-

You will lose yourself in the imaginative dreams of eleven year old Theodore Wilson's. Don't miss this review coming soon.

More reviews and available for purchase on Amazon .com. Just click on image of book and the link will take you there.

Thank you!

Upcoming Book Review

Upcoming Book Review
Gretchen Zufall (Author) Mike Paar (Illustrator)

Motherhood- Courage


Motherhood is an art impossible to explain, one which requires a vast sea of love, devotion, compassion, and understanding, unmatched by any affection we will ever know again.- Ann Clemmons

Courage-

Courage



Humor-

Humor


Words-

Words are the core of our souls, without written, vocal or lyrical expression we lose sight of one another or worse, ourselves. Words bring forth the essence of the human spirit; so express yourself without abandon.

Ann Clemmons

Favorite Phrase

I remember I used to half believe and wholly play with fairies when I was a child. What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood, tempered and balanced by knowledge and common-sense...

Beatrix Potter’s Journal, 17 November 1896, from the National Trust collection.

Jacket Flap-

Powered by JacketFlap.com
The Storyteller, by Dawn Drover

Alone in her world
of make believe
weaving her stories
of magic and light

She brings joy
to the eyes
of innocent minds
less jaded and free

For only they know
what's in her heart
holding the secrets
she guards so well

Life's hidden mysteries
belong to those
whose wisdom and truth
shine on in imagination


Written for Ann
~Dawn Drover~

Of The Horoscope Junkie




Let"s talk!

Let"s talk!

Subscribe Today

Subscribe Today
Feed Powered by Feedburner

Catch your dreams

Catch your dreams

Imagine

Imagine
Most of the worlds' great things were born of adversity and hardship; because these roadblocks encourage us to dream, imagine and believe.- Ann Clemmons

Favorite quotes-

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.

Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”'


F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Lines from The Great Gatsby)
"A Southerner Talks Music"

Mark Twain

"A book must be the ax for the frozen sea inside us."

Franz Kafka

An author values a compliment even when it comes from a source of doubtful competency.

- Mark Twain in Eruption

"I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself"

Mark Twain

Animal Rescue Site

The Animal Rescue Site

Friendship