BBAW: What is Essential?

Today for the wrap up of BBAW here's what we've been asked to share:

The world of blogging is continually changing. Share 3 things you believe are essential tried and true practices for every blogger and 1-3 new trends or tools you’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future.

I don't know if I'm writing exactly what they are looking for, but I'm answering it this way anyways!

Essential Tried and True Practices

1.  Always be honest in your reviews.  Always!  You let your followers down when you aren't honest.  I know this can be hard when it seems like everyone else loves a book you didn't like!

2.  Let your passion for reading come through (aka your personality).  This is some ting I need to remind myself of every time I blog!  I'll start writing a review and it will sound all formal - not like me at all.  But, at the same time, I also have to remind myself of this when I am writing in my own "voice" and I think I should sound more formal.  I decided a while back to be myself in my blog.  People will like it or not.  That's life.  I'd rather be myself and lose followers than be someone I'm not and have tons of followers!

3.  Whenever possible schedule your blogs in advance! It saves times! I do mine on Sunday for the week.  Makes my week so much easier.

Trends or Tools I've Recently Adopted or Want To

1. I get an email when I get a reply to a post on the blog.  LOVE IT because it allows me to reply back more!

2. I've started using Google Calendar for posts that HAVE to be done.  I have it on my phone so an alarms goes off a few days before.  That way I make sure posts are getting done on time.

3.  A trend I've seen a few bloggers do is short reviews.  Mini reviews a lot call them.  I like them! I want to see those become a bit more of a trend or ok to do.  I don't need long in-depth reviews.  

Just my thoughts on blogging :)

BBAW: How Has Blogging Changed What You Read

Today for BBAW we're looking at how being a blogger and following blogs has changed how I read. Has it opened up new authors or genres? The way I read? How I read?  

It's changed my reading life in a lot of ways!

• I know all the MG/YA books coming out before they hit the shelves so BN isn't a surprise anymore!
• I've discovered that authors published by smaller publishers write awesome books.
• I have a longer list of books to read and SOMETIMES reading feels like work :(
• I know books like: Entwined, Ruby Red, Rot & Ruin, and Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze that I would've never known before!
• When reading a book I do always think about how I'll review it.
• I use book trailers in my classroom to promote a book and get kids interested
• I crave signed books :)
• I know what swag is!

But the biggest way I've changed - I listen to audio books!  Really! I would've never listened to audio books if it hadn't been for blogging.  I just never gave them much thought.  For one thing the price was always a factor. But after reading reviews on them and listening to other blogger rave about them I decided to give them a try.  And now I love them!  I learned how to get them through my library and Audible.com so price isn't an issue anymore.  They are my new passion for getting reluctant readers to read.  I don't think they should ever replace "traditional" reading, but I see the potential they hold.  I owe all the bloggers that showed me the light.  Thank you!!!!!


Has blogging changed you either being a blogger or reading blogs?  

I'm In Shock. The O.W.L. Won Best Kidlit Blog!

Complete and utter shock here because The O.W.L. won

 Best Kidlit Blog for BBAW! 

 I am both honored and humbled.  To know that "strangesr" take time to check out what I have to share is humbling.  You see I started this blog because of my students.  My passion is to get them reading, and this blog is a tool for doing that. I never thought it would something other people would be interested in.  But to have other people read it and feel it's worthwhile is such wonderful icing on the cake.  

And that maybe my babbling about books is helping another teacher or parent get kids reading are candles in that icing.  And, lastly, that maybe it's helping a middle schooler I've never met find a book to read - well that's lighting those candles.  It's more than I ever dreamed of when I started I want The O.W.L. 

Thank you all!!!  The O.W.L. would be a pretty lonely place without my followers!!!!  Thanks for reading. 

 I'm truly humbled that you take time to see what I have to say.  

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

BBAW: Being Part of the Community

Today for BBAW we're looking at how to become part of the book blogging community through all the time constraints on our lives.

I know this can be a tough one!  I follow so many blogs, and I feel bad that I don't get to comments as much as  I'd like. But here's a few things I do to keep myself feeling like I'm still participating in the book blogging community beyond just creating posts on my own blog.

1. I have found that being on Twitter has really helped me stay part of the community.  I'm lucky and have a smart phone, so I use Twitter on there.  The app I have allows me to quickly see what's happening and reply to anyone who has Tweeted to me. I know this way isn't for everyone, but it has helped me stay connected.

2. Pick one weekly feature and make that the one for sure every week you're going to make comments on.  For some people this is always the IMM posts.  They commit to commenting on them each week.  For me I like to do Tween Tuesday just because it focuses on the MG books.  It's up to you what feature, or meme, to pick but if you pick one then you know you're being part of the community that way.

3. If you have a blog and don't get emails when someone comments on your posts - get them!!! I just started this.  So as not to clutter up my inbox I created an email just for them.  I took my blog email and just added "comments" to the end for this new email.  What's nice about this is that I can reply back one of two ways.  I can either reply right on the post, or if I'm short of time I can reply to them through email right there.  It's been nice because I feel like I'm having a conversation more.  I don't reply to every one, but I reply more than I use to!

4. Use Google Reader!!!!! If you don't know how - learn! It makes going through the blogs you follow so much easier.  I go through and star the ones I want to go back and reply to.  Super easy!

Those are just three ways I try to stay a part of the community.  I will admit it takes time!  Again because I have a smart phone I can do a lot on down time when waiting for the kids etc.  Best advice though - just jump in and have fun.  If following, replying, Tweeting feelings like work - STOP being a part of this community should be fun not work!!! :)

Welcome to Book Blogger Appreciation Week!!!

Welcome everyone to Book Blogger Appreciation Week!  

This is the week each year where we celebrate the book blogging community - and what a great community it is!

Throughout the week you'll be seeing different posts sharing some of our thoughts, celebrations, goals on blogging.  Today we're looking at the community of blogging and sharing with our readers some of the great bloggers that have made blogging a unique experience for us.

I have a few to share!

Ms. Martin Teaches Media: Ms. Martin is a fellow MN blogger that I love!  Every time I go to her blog I'm reminded of the basic reason why I'm blogging - to read and review books so others can find great books to read.  That's what she does! If you are looking for a clear, concise review of MG or YA books, you need to check out her blog.  Her love for reading comes through each review, and the sheer number of books she reviews is testament to the fact that reading is important to her.

Reading Vacation: I sometimes feel like a fraud reviewing MG books because I'm definitely not the right age for them!  Malina at Reading Vacation is! But she way more than that.  To me she is the face of the middle school reader - the age I teach, so following her blog and reading her reviews gives me insight into what they are thinking and that helps me get them reading more.  But beyond that, she's just an amazing blogger!  She is taking the blogging community to a new level with her just announced Young Bloggers feature.  If you want to see the true diversity in YA/MG blogging plus meet a girl that kicks my butt when it comes to the amount of reading she does you have to check her out!!!!!

Juju at Tales of Whimsy:  If you don't know Juju or her blog you must go!  She is the nicest, sweetest blogger around.  I aspire to be like her in the amount of comments she makes on the blogs of others AND how she replies to the comments on her own blog.  She is a shining example of community in the blogger world.  To top it off, she has a great blog.  I really like her Wee-views where she gives short reviews on a book.  Thanks Juju for all you do!

Those are just three of the many bloggers that influence me daily.  Do you have any you would like to share?

The O.W.L. Made the Short List!

OMGosh! The O.W.L. made the short list for Best Kidlit Blog during Book Blogger Appreciation Week.  I cannot believe it!  I actually cried when I saw it.  You how people always say it's just an honor to be nominated?  Well really, truly and honestly it IS an honor to be nominated and to have made the short list.  It means that what I do is worthwhile and does put good into the world (ok that sounds cheesy but I don't really care!)  I'm on the list with two other fantastic blogs (wow to be in such company!!!) Charlotte's Library and There's A Book.

If you want to see the who made the short list in all the categories, make sure to check out the BBAW blog.   And make sure to vote for your favorite blogs on the short list.  You'll need to register via your Twitter or Google account. Check out the Registration Post at BBAW for the details  Then get ready to celebrate the book blogging community and the winners the week of September 12th.

BBAW Day Two - Interview Swaps! I Meet a Great New Blogger

Day #2 of BBAW features blogger interviews.  Today many bloggers will be posting interviews of other bloggers.  I wanted to join in this event because I love meeting other bloggers, seeing what and how they blog.

 I got the wonderful opportunity to meet Jill from Fizzy Thoughts.  

 I love what she has to say about herself on her blog:

I turned 41 this year (ack! I’m still wondering how that happened), but I promise you I rarely act my age. I have a huge sarcastic streak (it’s hereditary…from both sides of the family…I’m doomed) and I try very hard not to take myself seriously. You will often find bad song parodies lurking in between my posts about books. And watch out, you might even show up in one of them!

Now does that sounds like a fun blogger to read???? 

Make sure you go to Fizzy Thoughts and check her out!

Here's what she had to say about 5 questions I asked her.

1.  Why did you start blogging?

My original blog was on LiveJournal…I started blogging with a bunch of friends from BookCrossing. Mostly, it was just daily chatter. Later, after I moved over to Blogger, I started posting more about the books I’d read as a way of keeping track. I wanted to have a record since my memory is so lousy. The fabulous book blogger community is what keeps me blogging….I love connecting with others who are passionate about books and reading.

2.  If you could live within the world of any book - what one would you pick and why?
Even though it’s by no means a favorite book, I’m going to go with A Year in the World, by Frances Mayes. I’d love to travel around to different places and stay for weeks at a time in order to experience a place and its people. And not have to worry about where the money was coming from. And have a beautiful home in Italy to return to. What, me? Jealous? Why, yes, I am. I own my jealousy.


3.  I want to know what you think of the name Jill as well since I find it funny we are both named Jill!
Like you, I hated it when I was young. In 6th grade, the boys in my class thought it great fun to chant obscene versions of “Jack and Jill went up the hill.” Okay, maybe they weren’t really obscene versions, but 6th grade me hated them! As an adult, I still have a few issues with my name. Evidently, I can’t enunciate my own name, as people often think my name is Jo. And it’s always awkward when I meet a Jack (it happens more than you might think). But, on a positive note, it is easy to type.

4.  What is the first book you remember truly loving or wanting to read over and over? When was the last time you read it?
The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Or maybe Anne of Green Gables? Did I mention my lousy memory? I loved both of these books when I was young, and I know I read them multiple times. But I can’t remember the last time I read them…it must have been when I was a teen. As an adult, I’m not a re-reader.

5.  Since my blog theme is owls - do you like owls?
I love owls. I even have a little stuffed one sitting on top of the tv. Her name is Olivia, and she’s always reading a book. Last time I looked, it was Charlotte’s Web. And like me, she wears glasses. We’re practically twins.
 

And look she included a picture!!!  She has the same name as me AND and owl.  I'm gonna go with she's perfect.

 

 

Now stop reading my blog and go check out Fizzy Thoughts!

Welcome to BBAW 2010!!!

Hey everyone welcome to BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week). The BBAW Content Development Team is proud to announce our theme for 2010: A Treasure Chest of Infinite Books and Infinite Blogs.

If you don't know what BBAW is here is a bit about it taken from the BBAW Blog:

Book Blogger Appreciation was started by Amy Riley of My Friend Amy in an effort to recognize the hard work and contribution of book bloggers to the promotion and preservation of a literate culture actively engaged in discussing books, authors, and a lifestyle of reading.
The first Book Blogger Appreciation was observed in the fall of 2008 and occurs every September. The week spotlights and celebrates the work of active book bloggers through guest posts, awards, giveaways, and community activities.

There are lots of great things going on.  I personally will be posting an interview with a follow blogger on Tuesday.  Check out this post on the BBAW Blog to see all the happenings. 

Make sure to go to the GIVEAWAYS page for some fantastic giveaways in honor of BBAW.  Then get celebrating :)

Today we are sharing our First Treasures where we talk about a great new book blog we've discovered through blogging this year.  For me that book blog would be:

Milk & Cookies Comfort Reading

I love her blog because she does tons of reviews (something I need to get better at) and many of her reviews are on middle grade books.  Any time I'm wondering about a new book, I find a review for it on her blog! It's awesome :) This is really great when it comes to middle grade books.  I can't read them all, and her reviews help me see if it's a good it for my classroom library. I think I've read every review she's written!
 I highly suggestion you check her our and follow!!!

BBAW: Setting Goals

As BBAW wraps up it's time to look towards the future.  More specifically the future of our blogs.

Since my first post of July 11th I've learned a lot and come a looooong way.  I did not have a clue about the whole book blogging community I would find and how it would push me to make my blog as good as it could be.  I'm moving towards the blog I invision, but there is a lot of work ahead!

My goal for the next year:

Although I'm striving for a both  middle grade (MG) and young adult (YA) lit on my blog, I want to have a clearer balance. I find myself leaning more towards the YA end mainly because I enjoy reading it and because that's what I see on other blogs. I can point my students to numerous blogs about young adult or teen books, but there are very few geared just towards the middle grades.  I want my blog to fill that gap. I've thought about going completely middle grade, but I know I'll miss an entire group of students that want to read books with older characters and teen issues. I can't ignore their needs. So my goal for the next year is to also feature more middle grade authors and books.  A clear balance between the two is what is needed, and it's what I'll strive for over the next year.  I hope you join me on the journey!

(ok that was longer than 50 words! oops!)

BBAW Reading MEME

In this post I'll attempt to answer a few of the questions posed by the fun organizers of BBAW.  For most I'm going to answer in 5 or less words! Trust me - as an English teacher thats tough to do. Hope this helps you get to know me better as a reader  :)

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
         Never, never, never! 

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?
         Bookmark - OWL one right now

Laying the book flat open?
         NEVER!

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
         Fiction forever

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
        A chapter break please

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
       Why would I do that???????

What are you currently reading?
       Just finished When You Reach Me.  AMAZING

What is the last book you bought?
       When You Reach Me

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
       Over and over and over and over

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
       Scott Westerfeld

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
       You can organize your books? Who knew?

I will do my best to get on and read a bunch of other bloggers' posts.  I'm feeling bad that I'm not having as much time as I'd like!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Book Blogger Appreciation was started by Amy Riley of My Friend Amy in an effort to recognize the hard work and contribution of book bloggers to the promotion and preservation of a literate culture actively engaged in discussing books, authors, and a lifestyle of reading.


The first Book Blogger Appreciation was observed in the fall of 2008 and occurs every September. The week spotlights and celebrates the work of active book bloggers through guest posts, awards, giveaways, and community activities. Book Bloggers are encouraged to register their participation for inclusion in a database of book bloggers.


I'm excited to be able to be a part of BBAW this year.  Just think, a few short months ago I didn't even know there was such a week.  Be sure to check out the BBAW website for all the events happening. Here's what you can find:

• Winning blogs
• Contests and give-aways
• Directory of blogs participating
• How and where to buy BBAW gear
• Calendar of events across the blogging community
  

I'm amazed at how helpful my fellow bloggers have been.  Here are a few I've looked to for help and inspiration

Kristin at Bookworming in the 21st Century

Lizzy at Cornucopis Of Reviews

Korianne at Korianne Speaks

Juju from Tales of Whimsy

McKenzie  at The Book Owl

Andrea at The Little Bookworm

Thanks to everyone! Now go enjoy the events :)

Book Blogger Appriciation Week

Book Blogger Appreciation week will be September 14-18

Book Blogger Appreciation was started by Amy Riley of My Friend Amy in an effort to recognize the hard work and contribution of book bloggers to the promotion and preservation of a literate culture actively engaged in discussing books, authors, and a lifestyle of reading.
The first Book Blogger Appreciation was observed in the fall of 2008 and occurs every September. The week spotlights and celebrates the work of active book bloggers through guest posts, awards, giveaways, and community activities. Book Bloggers are encouraged to register their participation for inclusion in a database of book bloggers.

I'm a new blogger so here's some things about me!


1) What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

There has been several.  One has been finding this wonderful community of fellow readers and bloggers.  They are an amazing wealth of knowledge and excitement about books.  I have found so many new books to read, and fantastic resources to use!  I'm a 7th grade English teacher, so both of these are needed for my job.

The other highlight has been connecting with authors.  That has been fun and exciting.  It amazes me how kind and open some authors can be - willing to connect with readers on a personal level. I know they are busy, but still they'll take a minute to respond.  I'm so excited to be able to bring these contacts back to my students and use them to motivate their reading!

2) What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

The following bloggers have either helped me with all my questions or just have fantastic blogs that I aspire to be like!  Thanks!!

Bookworming in the 21st Century
Chick Lit Teens
WORD for Teens
Korianne Speaks
The Story Siren

3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

I'd like to know what was the best thing you learned from participating in BBAW?

Make sure to go to the BBAW website for more bloggers!