Poetry Friday: More Roald Dahl
September 29, 2006
Since I've just finished re-reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
"So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks—
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start — oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did."
For other Poetry Friday entries, I refer you to Kelly or Liz. I'm still (always and forever, it seems) traveling. Have a great weekend!
by Howard Whitehouse, which I loved, and will review when I get a chance). And somehow, I've ended up reading four other books at once this week. Here's the story:
by Barry Lyga. I'm enjoying that one (it's about to be released), but I didn't want to bring it on my trip because it's hardcover, and I'm pretty far into it, and it seemed an inefficient use of carry-on space. 
, which I had ordered from Amazon because several people have included the third book in the series on their 
(because I so enjoyed his newer book, 
). But then I had nothing else to read with me, so I started reading Be More Chill during dinner. 
, but had several other favorites on the list as well. 
, a book that my grandmother enjoyed late in her life, and that one one of my nieces likes, too.
, 
, and 
. But there's plenty of variety, too. I know that I won't lack for ideas for what books to read for the rest of the year. 
is the story of Steph Landry. Steph is about to start 11th grade. She has been something of an outcast in her small town ever since the legendary red Super Big Gulp incident five years earlier, in which she spilled a big gulp onto the white skirt of popular, and unforgiving, Lauren Moffat. This incident led to the phrase "way to pull a Steph Landry", now ubiquitous in Bloomfield, Indiana as a way of accusing someone of doing something really, really stupid. 
. I haven't read it yet, but it's about two boys, separated by 500 years, who both love books. It's recommended for fans of 
, and is certainly not one that I'll be able to resist.
by Celia Rees (young adult)
by Ted Bell (adult thriller)
by Kenneth Oppel (young adult, includes pirates)
by Tanith Lee (middle school).
by Jon Lewis
for the 2007 community reading program. "One Book One Community, which is heading into its sixth year, encourages Central Florida children -- and the adults in their lives -- to read the same book." The program is sponsored by the Orlando Sentinel. Read more in this 
and 
by Polly Shulman. I also went for a couple of excellent walks around Balboa Island - there's a nice boardwalk that goes all the way around the island. All of that means that I didn't have time to do as much as usual in the way of Sunday blog visits (and that I have several book reviews to write). However, here are a few things that you might find of interest.