mandymarie20's 2012 Reading Goals

I'm continuing my quest to read all the books in my collection in order to decide which ones to keep, and which ones to donate. Hopefully this will only take a few years. This year I've decided to cut my goal in half from last year so it does not stress me out. The goal this year, will be 250 books. I don't have any particular genre or title challenge, I just grab the next box and start reading.




2012 Reading Goal - 250 Books

January Statistics
Books Read - 48
Discarded - 9
Towards Goal - 48/250
Percentage - 19 %

February Statistics
Books Read - 28
Discarded - 6
Towards Goal - 76/250
Percentage - 30%

March Statistics
Books Read - 30
Discarded - 3
Towards Goal - 106/250
Percentage - 42%

April Statistics
Books Read - 18
Discarded - 6
Towards Goal - 124/250
Percentage - 49%

May Statistics
Books Read - 28
Discarded - 5
Towards Goal - 152/250
Percentage - 60%

June Statistics
Books Read - 111
Discarded - 16
Towards Goal - 263/250
Percentage - 105%

1. Allen, Louise - No Place for a Lady
2. Willingham, Michelle - Her Warrior Slave
3. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden 2: The Red Trailer Mystery
4. Welinder, Per and Whitley, Peter - Mastering Skateboarding
5. Moore, Margaret - The Overlord's Bride
6. Langan, Ruth - Highland Sword
7. Rock, Joanne - The Knight's Redemption
8. Carlson, Nancy Savage - A Grandmother for the Orphelines
9. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 02 - The House on the Cliff
10. Coerr, Eleanor - Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
11. Catanese, P.W. - The Eye of the Warlock
12. Schulze, Sharon - Lady of the Keep
13. Cooper, Susan - The Dark is Rising
14. Caudill, Rebecca - Tree of Freedom
15. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 04 - The Missing Chums
16. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 05 - Hunting for Hidden Gold
17. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 06 - The Shore Road Mystery
18. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 07 - The Secret of the Caves
19. Rowell, Patricia Frances - A Perilous Attraction
20. Anton, Shari - Knave of Hearts
21. Babbitt, Natalie - The Search for Delicious
22. Seymour, Ana - Lord of Lyonsbridge
23. Hart, Jillian - The Horseman
24. Sands, Charlene - The Courting of Widow Shaw
25. Ranstrom, Gail - Unlacing Lilly
26. Smith, Bobbi - Relentless
27. Laurens, Stephanie - A Fine Passion
28. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden 03 The Gatehouse Mystery
29. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden 04 The Mysterious Visitor
30. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden 05 The Mystery off Glen Road
31. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden 06 Mystery in Arizona
32. Monroe, Marcia - Yoga and Scoliosis
33. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 08 The Mystery of Cabin Island
34. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 09 The Great Airport Mystery
35. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 10 What Happened at Midnight
36. Dalgliesh, Alice - The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
37. Edwards, Cassie - Savage Moon
38. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 07 The Mysterious Code
39. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 08 The Black Jacket Mystery
40. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 09 The Happy Valley Mystery
41. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
42. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 11 While the Clock Ticked
43. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 12 Footprints Under the Window
44. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 13 The Mark on the Door
45. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 10 The Marshland Mystery
46. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 11The Mystery at Bob-White Cave
47. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 12 The Mystery of the Blinking Eye
48. Gromosiak, Paul - Daring Niagara
49. Enright, Elizabeth - Thimble Summer
50. Harrison, Lisi - Revenge of the Wannabes
51. Dison, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 14 The Hidden Harbor Mystery
52. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 15 The Sinister Signpost
53. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 16 A Figure in Hiding
54. Casanova, Mary - McKenna
55. Hudson, Jan - Sweetgrass
56. Winkler, Henry and Oliver, Lin - A Tale of Two Tails
57. Hiller, B.B. - Rent a Third Grader
58. Calvert, Patricia - The Snowbird
59. Boston, L.M. - The Children of Green Knowe
60. Sherry, Edna - Sudden Fear
61. Crossley-Holland, Kevin - The Seeing Stone
62. Fritz, Jean - The Cabin Faced West
63. Lobel, Arnold - Days With Frog and Toad
64. Hall, Donald - Ox-Cart Man
65. Ahlberg, Janet and Ahlberg, Allan - Each Peach Pear Plum
66. Camp, Candace - An Unexpected Pleasure
67. Merrill, Christine - Willingham, Michelle - Allen, Louise - Brisbin, Terri - Gaston, Diane - Pleasurably Undone!
68. Simmons, Deborah - My Lady de Burgh
69. Cleary, Beverly - Ramona and Her Mother
70. Bridges, Kate - The Proposition
71. Hart, Jillian - Finch, Carol - St. John, Cheryl - Snowflakes and Stetsons
72. Finch, Carol - The Ranger's Woman
73. Laurens, Stephanie - Scandal's Bride
74. Seredy, Kate - The White Stag
75. Tranberg, Charles - Not So Dumb: The Life and Career of Marie Wilson
76. Kayne, Stacey - Bride of Shadow Canyon
77. Allard, Harry - Bumps in the Night
78. Fleischman, Paul - Joyful Noise Poems for Two Voices
79. Updike, John - A Child's Calendar
80. Clifford, Eth - Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library!
81. Godden, Rumer - The Dolls' House
82. Ibbotson, Eva - Which Witch?
83. Anton, Shari - The Conqueror
84. Lane, Elizabeth - Wyoming Wildfire
85. Henkes, Kevin - Olive's Ocean
86. Parish, Peggy - Amelia Bedelia Helps Out
87. Kherdian, David - The Road From Home
88. Lowry, Lois - The Willoughbys
89. Creech, Sharon - Walk Two Moons
90. Delton, Judy - Pee Wee Scouts 02 - Camp Ghost-Away
91. Delton, Judy - Pee Wee Scouts 03 - Lucky Dog Days
92. Delton, Judy - Pee Wee Scouts 06 -Peanut-Butter Pilgrims
93. Cassedy, Sylvia - Behind the Attic Wall
94. Hahn, Emily - Mary Queen of Scots
95. Kipling, Rudyard - Kim
96. Sauer, Julia L. - Fog Magic
97. Lowry, Lois - Anastasia's Chosen Career
98. Byars, Betsy - The Blossoms and the Green Phantom
99. Byars, Betsy - A Blossom Promise
100. Dr Seuss - The Cat's Quizzer
101. Dr Seuss - And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street
102. Sachar, Louis - There's a Boy in the Girls Bathroom
103. Haywood, Carolyn - Eddie and Gardenia
104. Wegenast, Bettina - Big Bad Sheep
105. Counts, Wilma - The Lady and the Footman
106. Cornick, Nicola - The Last Rake in London
107. Drake, Shannon - Reckless
108. Disney, Dorothy Cameron - Explosion
109. Drake, Shannon - Wicked
110. Barbour, Anne - Miss Prestwick's Crusade
111. Beverley, Jo - Hazard
112. Bergin, Louise - The Winter Duke
113. Buck, Gayle - The Fleeing Heiress
114. Hahn, Emily - With Naked Foot
115. Hendrickson, Emily - Drusilla's Downfall
116. DePalma, Mary Newell - Bow-Wow Wiggle-Waggle
117. Bancroft, Blair - The Lady and the Cit
118. Bancroft, Blair - The Harem Bride
119. Carleton, Susannah - The Marriage Campaign
120. Harrington, Kathleen - The MacLean Groom
121. Potter, Ellen - Pish Posh
122. Papademetriou, Lisa - Save the Cupcake!
123. Carleton, Susannah - A Twist of Fate
124. Frampton, Megan - A Singular Lady
125. Hendrickson, Emily -Lord Nick's Folly
126. Paul, Elliot - Mayhem in B Flat
127. Hendrickson, Emily - My Lady Faire
128. Stephens, Monique Z. - The Berrylicious Bake-off
129. Anderson, R. P. - Golden Egg Hunt
130. dePaola, Tomie - Helga's Dowry
131. Heyward, Du Bose - The Country Bunny
132. dePaola, Tomie - The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog
133. dePaola, Tomie - An Early American Christmas
134. Lindgren, Astrid - The Tomten
135. Bishop, Claire Huchet - The Five Chinese Brothers
136. George, Gail - The Popples' Pajama Party
137. Chandler, A.C. - The Puppy Nobody Wanted
138. Kovacs, Deborah - The Evening Song
139. Marcelle, Harriet - The Dream Machine
140. Benjamin, Ruth - The Missing Recipe
141. Newell, Peter- The Hole Book
142. Johnston, Tony - The Vanishing Pumpkin
143. Brickman - Sure You Can 'Do It Yourself
144. Bancroft, Blair - A Season for Love
145. Bergin, Louise - A Worthy Opponent
146. Moore, Margaret - Highland Heiress
147. March, Catherine - The Brigadier's Daughter
148. Carleton, Susannah - Twin Peril
149. Hendrickson, Emily - Pursuing Priscilla
150. Mansfield, Elizabeth - An Encounter With Venus
151. Greene, Elena - The Redwyck Charm
152. McElfresh, Adeline - Nurse Kathy
153. Gag, Wanda - Gone is Gone
154. Gag, Wanda - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
155. Gag, Wanda - The Funny Thing
156. Gag, Wanda - Millions of Cats
157. Gag, Wanda - Snippy and Snappy
158. Bishop, Laurie - Lord Ryburn's Apprentice
159. Seuss, Dr - McElligot's Pool
160. Suess, Dr - The Sneetches and Other Stories
161. Seuss, Dr - Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
162. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Go to School
163. Ahlberg, Janet and Allan - The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters
164. Allard, Harry and Marshall, James - Miss Nelson Has a Field Day
165. Allard, Harry and Marshall, James - Miss Nelson is Back
166. Joyce, Irma - Never Talk to Strangers
167. The Rand McNally Book of Favorite Bible Stories and Verses
168. Grant, Campbell - Cinderella
169. Dempster, Al - Alice in Wonderland
170. Potter, Marian - The Little Red Caboose
171. Stone, Jon - The Monster at the End of This Book
172. Crampton, Gertrude - Scuffy the Tugboat
173. Reed, Mary and Osswald, Edith - Numbers What They Look Like and What They Do
174. Odor, Ruth Shannen - A Child's Book of Manners
175. Crampton, Gertrude - Tootle
176. Hazen, Barbara Shook - Raggedy Ann and the Cookie Snatcher
177. Wright, Dare - The Lonely Doll
178. Wright, Dare - Edith and Mr Bear
179. Wright, Dare - A Gift From the Lonely Doll
180. Seuss, Dr - Hunches in Bunches
181. Piper, Watty - The Little Engine That Could
182. De Brunhoff, Jean - The Story of Babar
183. Kohara, Kazuno - Ghosts in the House!
184. Pienkowski, Jan - Little Monsters
185. Pienkowski, Jan - Dinner Time
186. Pienkowski, Jan - Haunted House
187. Eastman, P.D. - The Best Nest
188. Eastman, P.D. - Are You My Mother?
189. Seuss, Dr - One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
190. Seuss, Dr - Dr. Seuss's ABC
191. Seuss, Dr - Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!
192. Palmer, Helen - A Fish Out of Water
193. Lopshire, Robert - Put Me in the Zoo
194. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Bears' Picnic
195. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree
196. Bowden, Joan Chase - The Ginghams The Backward Picnic
197. Brown, Margaret Wise - The Golden Egg Book
198. Disney, Walt - Mickey Mouse The Kitten-Sitters
199. Buettner, Carl - Donald Duck, Lost and Found
200. Disney, Walt - Mickey Mouse and the Great Lot Plot
201. Goodman, Joan Elizabeth - Amanda's First Day of School
202. Bedford, Annie North - Donald Duck and the Witch
203. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright
204. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter
205. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Truth
206. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's
207. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest
208. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and Mama's New Job
209. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day
210. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
211. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Friends
212. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears In the Dark
213. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers
214. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare
215. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Eager Beavers
216. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat
217. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp
218. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Cook-It!
219. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Slumber Party
220. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear
221. Krugman, Karen - The Missing Wedding Dress
222. Sanderson, Ruth - The Twelve Dancing Princesses
223. Martin, Bill - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
224. Brown, Margaret Wise - Goodnight Moon
225. Henkes, Keven - A Good Day
226. Disney, Walt - Cinderella
227. Little Songs of Long Ago
228. Potter, Beatrix - The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle
229. Ahlberg, Janet and Allan - The Jolly Christmas Postman
230. Silverstein, Shel - The Giving Tree
231. Williams, Margery - The Classic Tale of the Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real
232. Nosetalgia
233. Lenski, Lois - The Little Family
234. Lenski, Lois - Papa Small
235. Silverstein, Shel - Where the Sidewalk Ends
236. Potter, Beatrix - A Treasury of Peter Rabbit and Other Stories
237. Hefter, Richard - Very Worried Walrus
238. Johnson, Robyn - The Enchanted Dolls' House
239. Johnson, Robyn - The Enchanted Dolls' House Wedding
240. Leslie, Sarah - Rainbow Brite and the Brook Meadow Deer
241. The Golden Book of Poems for the Very Young
242. Asch, Frank - Popcorn
243. Disney, Walt - Pinocchio and His Puppet Show Adventure
244. Disney, Walt - Brer Rabbit and His Friends
245. Disney, Walt - The Brave Little Tailor
246. Disney, Walt - The Mickey Mouse Make-It Book
247. Disney, Walt - The Mickey Mouse Magic Book
248. Disney, Walt - Donald Duck and the Magic Stick
249. Disney, Walt - Button Soup
250. Disney, Walt - The Princess Who Never Laughed
251. Disney, Walt - The Mystery of the Missing Peanuts
252. Disney, Walt - The Sorceror's Apprentice
253. Kaufman, Joe - The Toy Book
254. Pfloog, Jan - The Dog Book
255. Scarry, Richard - The Bunny Book
256. Parish, Peggy - Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower
257. Hargreaves, Roger - Squawk
258. Hargreaves, Roger - Croak
259. Hargreaves, Roger - Baa
260. Hargreaves, Roger - Cluck
261. Bancroft, Blair - The Major Meets His Match
262. Brooks, Bethany - Her Perfect Earl
263. Blume, Lesley M.M. - Let's Bring Back

Hello and welcome back! I saw you've reached your goal for 2011, congrats on that! Hope this year is going to be just as good!

I'm with you mandymarie, I don't want mine to be a goal that is so stressful that I may not do it or won't enjoy it. Afer all, we read because it's a pleasure, not because it's work!

Definitely agree with you clue. I'm going to try to enjoy myself more, vs just trying to get through a bunch of books.

1. Allen, Louise - No Place for a Lady - 2 Stars - Discard


Bree Mallory helps her brother run a coach company. She ends up in the company of Max Dysart when a Bree runs off the road while driving a coach. I just couldn't get into this one. I didn't care about any of the characters, so it was difficult to read. Thankfully, I'm starting off the year getting rid of something.

2. Willingham, Michelle - Her Warrior Slave - 2 Stars - Discard


Kieran is a slave. To earn his freedom, he must carve a likeness of his master's betrothed as well as her bridal trunk. The premise did not seem to make sense, nor did the romance between the slave and the master's betrothed. Another stinker to start off the year. It feels good to start the year off clearing off some shelf space.

Hi Mandymarie, I'm looking forward to following your progress again this year. Sorry, your first two weren't the best, but I guess it's great to be able to discard a couple without any second thoughts!

3. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden #2: The Red Trailer Mystery - 4 Stars - Kept


I'm enjoying the Trixie Belden books more than I thought. Not being a tomboy, I thought I wouldn't find aspects of the book I like, but there is adventure, mystery, and even menus in the books. Who knew?

I've probably said this before, but I loved Trixie Belden books when I was young!

I was the quintessential tomboy so adored Trixie Belden and never found Nancy Drew to be interesting at all!

I'm really learning to love Trixie myself. I've only read the first two, but they are definitely better than I anticipated.

4. Welinder, Per and Whitley, Peter - Mastering Skateboarding - Early Reviewer - 5 Stars - Donated


A must for anyone who takes up a board! 'Mastering Skateboarding' is the ultimate how-to manual for skateboard enthusiasts. This must manual contains everything from the basics of how to put your feet on the board; a great step-by-step breakdown for each skill and trick with accompanying photographs; how to customize your board; different kinds of architecture to do your tricks on; how to be a competitive skateboarder; and even how to run a skateboard competition. The text is easy enough to understand for someone who has never boarded but does not talk down to advanced boarders. Everyone who skateboards needs this book! I'm not much of a daredevil, so I'll pass this on to a skater I know.

5. Moore, Margaret - The Overlord's Bride - 4 Stars - Kept


Elizabeth has been at a nunnery ever since her parents passed away. Her uncle marries her off to Raymond D'Estienne, whose first wife he killed after she tried to strangle him to death. Under these troublesome circumstances love flourishes along with adventure and conspiracy. Fun, fast read.

6. Langan, Ruth - Highland Sword - 3 Stars - Kept



Allegra Drummond is a healer who lives in a magic land with her family. Merrick MacAndrew kidnaps her in order to save his son's life. Sweet romance with wonderful intrigue. Would have voted it higher, but I think I may just be too jaded to enjoy the magical aspects of the tale.

7. Rock, Joanne - The Knight's Redemption - 4 Stars - Kept



Ariana Glamorgan has a curse upon her family. All women are doomed to die in the nunnery. So when handsome knight Roarke Barret comes searching for a wife, she deceives him into marrying her. Sweet romance with great action and intrigue.

You're off to a great start, Mandymarie!

Thanks DeltaQueen!

8. Carlson, Nancy Savage - A Grandmother for the Orphelines - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Josine searches for a grandmother for the Orphelines, orphans who live in a castle in France. Sweet tale from Nancy Savage Carlson about what makes a true family. Carlson clearly understands the idea of a wonderful made family. Josine was at times a bit annoying, but as a whole this was a gem of a tale.

9. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 2 - The House on the Cliff - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Since I'm a Nancy Drew addict, I thought it only fair to give the Hardy Boys a try. This book involved an empty house on a cliff and a nasty set of smugglers. What I thought novel about this book, was that the 'bad guy' seemed reformed at the end of the book, wanting to open up a place for troubled boys. Fun mystery with a surprise nugget at the end.

10. Coerr, Eleanor - Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Sadako's tale touched me deeply as a child, so I was intrigued to read it as an adult. It really speaks to the long term effects of war, but what really made an impression on me as a child was how Sadako was able to remain calm, busy, and optimistic when faced with a difficult illness. Spending much of my childhood in doctors's offices, the fact that someone's struggle could bring long-lasting hope made a lasting impression on me when young. Just as good as I remembered.

11. Catanese, P.W. - The Eye of the Warlock - 4 Stars - Borrowed



I picked this one up as a whim, and found it to be a very intriguing tale. A fractured fairy tale, Rudi lives in the house on Hansel and Gretel. One day, he and two other children find themselves in a similar situation - plus a thousand-year-old warlock seeking vengeance for the death of his daughter (the witch killed by Hansel and Gretel). Full of adventure, fun twists, and intriguing choices - I found this a surprisingly fun take on a classic tale.

12. Schulze, Sharon - Lady of the Keep - 2 Stars - Discard



Lady Moira is newly widowed and pregnant - but who is the daddy? It might be a member of a rival clan who tries to gain the land her husband ruled. I wanted to like this one, but I just didn't feel drawn to the heroine. She was supposed to be perfect and everyone loved her, but I felt no sympathy for her. Many of the other characters were good, but when the heroine isn't great, it's not enjoyable.

13. Cooper, Susan - The Dark is Rising - 2 Stars - Borrowed



I definitely wanted to like this book, but perhaps so many great fantasy books have spoiled me to it. It just seemed like the reader is just thrown in the situation and I didn't see a reason. I didn't care for either the characters nor the situation. I was so disappointed because I really wanted to like it.

14. Caudill, Rebecca - Tree of Freedom - 4 Stars - Borrowed



I was pleasantly surprised by this Newbery Honor book surrounding life in Kentucky during the Revolutionary War. The Venable family moves to Kentucky to make a fresh start. But the Revolutionary War intervenes and makes life for the Venables quite difficult. I was pleasantly surprised how truthful aspects of this tale were, especially the tenuous hold people had on the land. I'm glad I read it.

15. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 04 - The Missing Chums - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Two of Frank and Joe's friends are missing. Throw in some costume confusion, kidnapping, and a bank robbery ring, and you've got a ripping fun mystery. Great fun. Best Hardy Boys book I've read yet.

16. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 05 - Hunting for Hidden Gold - 3 Stars - Borrowed



Frank and Joe are searching for buried gold in Montana for a friend of their father. There is also a gang of thieves searching for the gold too. Add amnesia, conspiracy, injuries, and a bunch of shenanigans, and you have another good mystery.

17. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 06 - The Shore Road Mystery - 4 Stars - Borrowed



There is a gang of car thieves on the loose. Frank and Joe are on the trail to find the thieves and clear their friends of the thefts. Fun mystery.

18. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 07 - The Secret of the Caves - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Something sinister is going on in the Honeycomb Caves. The Hardy Boys and their friends just want to find treasure with their metal detector, but the mystery draws them in. Fun mystery.

19. Rowell, Patricia Frances - A Perilous Attraction - 4 Stars - Kept



Charles Randolph's emotions are basically dead. To protect himself, he has detached himself. So when it comes time to marry, he buys himself a bride and saves a woman from financial ruin. Delightfully surprising. I thought from the summary on the back cover that the book might be a bit preachy, but it was delightful.

20. Anton, Shari - Knave of Hearts - 4 Stars - Kept



Marian de Lacy has hidden the identity of the father of her twins from everyone and accepted a humble position with her uncle. But when that man starts courting her cousin, Marian must decide whether to choose loyalty or love.

21. Babbitt, Natalie - The Search for Delicious - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Young Gaylen is given the task to make a census of the kingdom with the goal of finding the answer to one question: 'What is delicious?' This simple question is more difficult than one thinks, for everyone seems to have their own definition, from apples to fried fish. War breaks out, and while this is a child's book, it really does make one reflect on how simple disagreements can lead to such strife and unrest. For what's it's worth, my choice of delicious would be: 1. Ice Cold Milk; 2. Chocolate; 3. Hamloaf.

22. Seymour, Ana - Lord of Lyonsbridge - 2 Stars - Discard



Ellen Wakelin is in charge of her father's hold in Lyonsbridge. But she seems to have difficulty with the horse master, Connor, who is the former Lord. While Connor and several of the surrounding characters were endearing, I found the heroine insufferable, quite flat and disappointing. A definite discard

23. Hart, Jillian - The Horseman - 1 Star - Discard



Katelyn Green just lost her baby and was kicked out of her home by her husband. She takes shelter at her parents's home, but they want nothing to do with her. She remarries the first guy to ask. I thought the premise unbearable. The hero, Dillon, was just so darn gently I wanted him to be more of a man. The ending was unbelievable - I won't spoil it, but if a character has an irreversible medical condition there is no way to just ignore that fact to get a happy ending. Absolutely ridiculous!

24. Sands, Charlene - The Courting of Widow Shaw - 3 Stars - Kept



Glory Shaw was wanted for murder and Steven Harding vowed to hide and keep her safe until she can regain her memory of the incident. Sweet characters and a sweet romance.

25. Ranstrom, Gail - Unlacing Lilly - 2 Stars - Discard



Devlin Farrell meets Lilly in the garden of his half brother. Devlin is a bastard son, so he uses his brother's fiance, Lilly, as a pawn in a revenge scheme. Couldn't get into this one at all. Didn't like any of the characters.

26. Smith, Bobbi - Relentless - 2 Stars - Discard



Dusty Martin has no mother, so she dresses like a boy and rides shotgun on his stagecoach trips. Grant Spencer is a Texas Ranger who is tracking a gang who attacks Dusty's stagecoach. This offering felt totally disjointed and the characters were too flat. I just couldn't get into the book, and didn't feel sympathetic to any of the characters. Very disappointing read.

27. Laurens, Stephanie - A Fine Passion - 1 Star - Discard



Jack, Baron Warnefleet has finally arrived home from service to the crown and wants to get married. Lady Clarice, the first woman he sees, fits the bill. Only problem is she seems to have taken over his duties as Lord. Really disappointed in this one. I had to force myself to read it, which is disappointing because I usually adore books by Stephanie Laurens. The heroine, Lady Clarice, was insufferable and therefore I could not get into the fantasy. A definite discard.

28. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden #3 The Gatehouse Mystery - 2 Stars



Trixie and her friend Honey fiend a diamond in the abandoned gatehouse on Honey's property. I wish this would have been a better book, but it seemed the entire time that even though there was a mystery going on, the girls just kept complaining about one guy, who while he didn't say nice things, he was correct in his assessments. Don't know what I'm going to do with this one yet. I wouldn't want to like the other books in the series and just get rid of this one because it annoyed me. I'll determine later whether this is a discard or not.

Would you keep a bad book in a series if you like others in it?

Wow! You're making good progress!

Would you keep a bad book in a series if you like others in it?

It would depend on whether it was the only one I didn't like; or whether I had the complete series. If every other book in the series was a "keeper" and I owned them all, I might hang on to the one I didn't like so the set would be complete. If it wasn't going to be a "complete" set, I'd just keep the ones I liked.

I would say the same as Terri above, if I was collecting the whole series, then I would keep all of them, but if just reading for pleasure, then I would only keep the ones I liked.

29. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden 04 The Mysterious Visitor - 3 Stars



Trixie Bleden's friend Diana (who recently became rich) suddenly has a long lost uncle. But he's not a great uncle, and Trixie thinks he's an impostor. Pretty good, but it was more of a finding proof process versus an actual mystery. The Halloween party in the book was cute.

30. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden 05 The Mystery Off Glen Road - 3 Stars



A storm damages Trixie Belden and her friends's clubhouse. To earn money, they work on a game preserve. Only problem is there may be a poacher. Cute book with a good mystery.

31. Campbell, Julie - Trixie Belden 06 Mystery in Arizona - 4 Stars



Trixie Belden's friend Diana's uncle invites all the gang to Arizona for Christmas. But almost all the servants at the ranch have disappeared. Leave it to Trixie to find the perfect solution to the lack of help - and the mystery. Good mystery with some interesting history about Native Americans and Arizona.

32. Monroe, Marcia - Yoga and Scoliosis - 5 Stars - Kept - Early Reviewer



What a stunning accomplishment! Marcia Monroe has created a wonderful how-to for those who wish to hep their scoliosis through natural methods. Dozens of positions and exercises are broken down step-by-step accompanied by helpful photographs. It is so nice that someone has finally created a helpful book for those of us who live with scoliosis. Often pain relief and how to treat your body are not addressed through medical channels, so this refreshing and important book is vital for everyone who wants to feel better and have a better relationship with the scoliotic body.

33. Dixon, Franklin W. - Hardy Boys 08 The Mystery of Cabin Island - 4 Stars - Borrowed



The Hardy Boys are invited to stay at a cabin for Christmas vacation. Add a missing nephew and missing antiques, and you've got a good mystery.

34. Dixon, Franklin W. - Hardy Boys 09 The Great Airport Mystery - 3 Stars - Borrowed



Electronic parts are missing from cargo planes and the Hardy Boys are on the case. Good mystery.

35. Dixon, Franklin W. - Hardy Boys 10 What Happened at Midnight - 3 Stars - Borrowed



The Hardy Boys are ordered to steal a mysterious invention from an inventor so that it does not get stolen by someone else. Turns ou jewelry and smugglers abound in this fun mystery.

36. Dalgliesh, Alice - The Bears On Hemlock Mountain - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Jonathan must retrieve a pot on the other side of Hemlock Mountain. Of course there are no bears, so Jonathan has been told. But when Jonathan oversleeps and must begin his journey home at dark, he finds out if there are really bears or not. Wonderful illustrations accompany this classic tale. A real winner.

It's great reading about all these old Trixie Belden books, it's funny how well I remember them after all these years!

I also was a big Trixie Belden fan when I was a kid! I re-read the first 5-6 books a couple of years ago. I have books 1-17 in the series.

Sandy K

The Mystery on Cabin Island is one of my favourite Hardy Boys mysteries! I was a big Hardy Boys fan as a kid :) And my grownup self has a soft spot for all the airplane-themed ones like The Great Airport Mystery mentioned above ;)

37. Edwards, Cassie - Savage Moon - 3 Stars - Discard



Misshi was stolen from her family as a child by a Native American. She was raised as one of them and soon comes to the attention of Soaring Hawk, as a wife candidate. But her brother has made hunting for Misshi his lifelong quest, and will do anything to find her. Misshi's brother is disturbingly evil and I'm a bit too jaded to enjoy this book as I did when it first came out and it feels like Misshi is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.

38. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 07 The Mysterious Code - 3 Stars



Trixie and her friends, the Bob Whites, are in trouble. Their club is about to be outlawed at school. To prevent this, Trixie and the gang must figure out a way to be useful to the community. So they hold an antique auction with the benefits to go to UNICEF. A mystery code and robberies soon plague the groups philanthropic efforts. Pretty good mystery, but it seemed strange that Hawks could exist but the Bob Whites couldn't.

39. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 08 The Black Jacket Mystery - 4 Stars



Dan, a teen with a black yellow jacket, moves into the area. Dan also works at the Wheelers game preserve. But mysterious burglaries and troublesome happenings occur, as well as everyone keeping secrets, and Dan seems to be the cause. Fun look into the time with a pretty good mystery. It must be different for kids reading this book these days to think that just because someone has a leather jacket, they are bad. Makes me think of 'The Wild One' with Brando.

40. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 09 The Happy Valley Mystery - 4 Stars



Trixie and friends go to a Iowa farm where sheep are being stolen. Not only that, but mysterious lights are being seen in the woods behind the farm, too. Fun mystery with some interesting facts about sheep in it. And who knew there were girlish impulses in Trixie?

41. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - 4 Stars



The classic story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Includes the entire story - not just the Disney version of the tale. As a child, I didn't like the illustrations, but as an adult I appreciate the intricacies much more and not just look for pretty pictures.

42. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 11 While the Clock Ticked - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Best of the Hardy Boys I've read to date. There are mystery death threats sent to a locked room, theft of expensive jade collections, and two guys who look like they may be twins.

43. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 12 Footprints Under the Window - 3 Stars - Borrowed



Spies, dictators, cemeteries, and the Hardy Boys. Makes a fun adventure and mystery.

44. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 13 The Mark on the Door - 4 Stars - Borrowed



The Hardy Boys head to Mexico to deal with a criminal band of Indians, try to survive in the desert with no water, and escape capture in a submarine. What can't these Boys do?

45. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 10 The Marshland Mystery - 5 Stars



Trixie and Honey explore a mysterious marsh to gain samples of herbs for their teacher. But a mysterious old lady, a missing violin prodigy, and possible pirate treasure are sure to keep the Bob Whites on their toes.

46. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 11 The Mystery at Bob-White Cave - 3 Stars



Trixie and the gang head to the Ozarks to explore caves in search of albino cave fish. But there may be a ghost that find them first! Pretty good mystery and lots of adventure.

47. Kenny, Kathryn - Trixie Belden 12 The Mystery of the Blinking Eye - 4 Stars



Trixie and the gang head to New York City for a vacation, but a poem from a mysterious Mexican fortune-teller comes true at every turn. Danger and adventure follow the gang as long as Trixie has a mysterious idol.

48. Gromosiak, Paul - Daring Niagara - 5 Stars



My husband and I went to Niagara Falls about 8 years ago and I was totally inspired by the breathtaking beauty and power. It makes one also wonder, what on Earth possesses men and women to face death for a stunt. This compact volume gives the story of 50 stunts involving the Falls including airplanes, funambulists (tightrope walkers), and of course, those who go over in a Niagara Falls in a barrel. Entertaining and astounding, these ambitious and possibly crazy individuals should be remembered for their sheer daring and imagination.

49. Enright, Elizabeth - Thimble Summer - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Garnet found a silver thimble by the river and it brings good luck. Sweet story of Great Depression era. Definitely deserving of the Newbery it received.

50. Harrison, Lisi - Revenge of the Wannabes - 1 Star - Borrowed



Dealings of middle school clique. Lots of brand name dropping and vapid 'friendships'. Please tell me what the appeal of this stuff is because I for the life of me can't find a redeeming quality in this book.

51. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 14 The Hidden Harbor Mystery - 5 Stars - Borrowed



One of the best Hardy Boys books I've read so far. The Hardy Boys are helping a man defend himself against a libel suit. There is possible missing treasure, missing people, and possibly the Loch Ness Monster. It also employs the classic Scooby Doo ending - the treasure was in Confederate Money! Total classic ending. I always wondered why its considered worthless because even though the money itself can't be taken to the bank, it could be sold on the antique market.

52. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 15 The Sinister Signpost - 2 Stars - Borrowed



I really wanted to like this one since I love auto racing, but I just couldn't get that into this Hardy Boys volume. Race horses and experimental race cars disappear along with those 'sinister signposts'.

53. Dixon, Franklin W. - The Hardy Boys 16 A Figure in Hiding - 3 Stars - Borrowed



Mysterious eyes are everywhere: clubs, threats, and even glass eyes. This one started out great and thought this one would be the best Hardy Boys yet, but the last half sort of lagged.

54. Casanova, Mary - McKenna - 3 Stars - Discard



McKenna just loves gymnastics. It is her entire life. But when she starts to struggle in school, she must find a way to do better in school and in the gym. On the whole, this is a good book about getting help in school when you need it and learning to accept those with disabilities. I just think there were two big topics that probably should be addressed in two different books.

55. Hudson, Jan - Sweetgrass - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Sweetgrass is intent on getting married, but her father does not think her mature enough. But when smallpox breaks out in her village, Sweetgrass has an opportunity to prove her worth. I remember this book fondly from childhood. I read it when I was in fifth grade or so and loved it. I found Sweetgrass's strength was admirable. A nice jaunt back in time.

56. Winkler, Henry and Oliver, Lin - A Tale of Two Tails - 3 Stars - Borrowed



Hank Zipzer wants his dog Cheerio to be chosen as his school's mascot. The only problem is he'll have to teach Cheerio to do some tricks, write a research paper, and compete against his sister and her super iguana. Fun book for kids, but not my thing.

57. Hiller, B.B. - Rent a Third Grader - 4 Stars - Borrowed



The police department is getting rid of it's horse, Partner, and the third graders want to save him. They come up with a plan to earn money and have him stay on a farm. Cute children's paperback.

58. Calvert, Patricia - The Snowbird - 3 Stars - Borrowed



Willanna Bannerman and her brother are orphans, their parents died in a fire. So they travel with their aunt and uncle, whom they just met, to Dakota Territory. Sweet coming of age story in pioneer times.

59. Boston, L.M. - The Children of Green Knowe - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Tolly visits the home of his great-grandmother while on home for vacation. But the ghosts of the children who lived there don't rest. These children still want to play. This magical fantasy is sweet and has a timeless quality to it which is endearing.

60. Sherry, Edna - Sudden Fear - 5 Stars - Kept - 12 in12



Stunner of a pulp! Myra is a famous, middle-aged, rich, bored playwright. One day she saves a woman from drowning. To gain inspiration for her next play, Myra brings the girl to her home where Myra lives with her young husband. Naturally Myra's 'philanthropy' goes awry when she plays her tape recorder. On it, Myra hears her 'beloved husband' and 'guest' Irma plotting Myra's murder. A race against time of whom will murder whom first. Loved it from start to finish. Definitely kept me guessing as to what the truth was and who would get murdered first.

Mandymarie, have you read the others in the Green Knowe series? There's about half a dozen of them, definitely worth reading!

Staffordcastle,

No I haven't read any of the other books in the Green Knowe series. I'll be sure to add them to my 'to read' list. Thanks for the recommendation.

61. Crossley-Holland, Kevin - The Seeing Stone - 2 Stars - Borrowed



Arthur wants to be a knight. He keeps seeing visions of King Arthur and Merlin. The book switches back and forth between the two times. Didn't really like this one. I had such high expectations. Chapters were short and easy to read.

62. Fritz, Jean - The Cabin Faced West - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Ann Hamilton and her family move from Gettysburg to the wilderness of western Pennsylvania during colonial times. Ann is lonely and life is hard for Ann, who just wants to return to the life she knew. A visit from George Washington changes her mind and she learns to love the west. Sweet pioneer tale with cute illustrations by Peodor Rojankovsky.

63. Lobel, Arnold - Days With Frog and Toad - 5 Stars - Borrowed



I didn't know this classic was from the year I was born. This sweet reader tells of the adventures of Frog and Toad, best friends. In this volume of their adventures they: battle procrastination, figure out how to fly a kite, get the scared shivers, figure out how to re-size a hat, and find out about the wonders in this world.

64. Hall, Donald - Ox-Cart Man - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Another gem from the year I was born. This Caldecott Medal book tells the tale of a family and the cycle of their farm over the year. The wonderful illustrations by Barbara Cooney help bring this time to life. It makes me want to give up all my technology and return to this simpler time where there were less worries.

65. Ahlberg, Janet and Ahlberg, Allan - Each Peach Pear Plum - 5 Stars - Borrowed



I-Spy book featuring characters from nursery rhymes. Very cute.

66. Camp, Candace - An Unexpected Pleasure - 3 Stars - Discard



Megan Mulcahey believes that Theo Moreland, Marquess of Raine, killed her brother on a trip to the Amazon. This industrious newspaperwoman takes a position as a tutor in his household to expose Theo as the murderer. Starts out ok, even with not much character development, but goes drastically off course where it gets a bit supernatural and a bit unbelievable.

67. Merrill, Christine - Willingham, Michelle - Allen, Louise - Brisbin, Terri - Diane Gaston - Pleasurably Undone! - 5 Stars



Regency romance anthology featuring five Harlequin authors. I usually do not like anthologies, but I liked this one. I guess I'm way off in my assessment because the book has only a 1 star average on Librarything.

68. Simmons, Deborah - My Lady de Burgh - 2 Stars - Discard



Robin de Burgh is convinced he and his brothers are cursed. That curse - they must marry. To prevent himself from being cursed, he seeks out a witch. Along the way he finds himself investigating a murder. He also finds 'the one', the woman he is meant to marry who also happens to be a novice nun. I could not get into this book and the heroine was not very lovable, so it's a discard for me.

69. Cleary, Beverly - Ramona and Her Mother - 2 Stars - Discard



I really wanted to like Ramona, but I just found her frustrating. Perhaps it is because I'm an adult or because I was never quite the mischievous child she is. And Ramona's folks were always fighting. I just don't see the allure of it and perhaps I never will.

Once again you are burning through the books. Great job, mandymarie!

70. Bridges, Kate - The Proposition - 1 Star - Discard



Jessica Haven lost her out-of-wedlock baby, so she forces Mountie Travis Reid to help her search for the baby. Of course she tells him she is only writing a story for a paper and tells him nothing about the child until the absolute last second. The love story I found unbelievable. If they really hated each other that much, would that disappear in less than a day? Doubtful. Even more doubtful is an uneducated woman having articles published in the Journal of Medicine, but we were supposed to believe that. The entire circumstances surrounding the 'baby' was ridiculously unbelievable. I liked the hero, Travis, but not enough to make this book re-readable. Definite discard.

71. Hart, Jillian - Finch, Carol - St. John, Cheryl - Snowflakes and Stetsons - 4 Stars - Keeper



Western anthology with three great stories by some of Harlequin's best western writers. Another great anthology. I definitely had the wrong impression of anthologies. The first story, written by Jillian Hart, was the best of the three.

Snowflakes and Stetsons sounds really fun! I've been in the mood for some Westerns lately - I'll have to put this one on the list. Glad you enjoyed it!

Gotta love a good western romance. Thanks for stopping by Caramellunacy!

72. Finch, Carol - The Ranger's Woman - 3 Stars - Discard



Piper Sullivan runs away from her father because she does not want to marry the man of his choice. Disguised as an old woman, the stagecoach she is traveling in is robbed. Luckily she is riding with a Texas ranger. The book was ok. I did not like the heroine enough to keep it in my collection. I just didn't see how she had such a horrible life.

73. Laurens, Stephanie - Scandal's Bride - 2 Stars - Discard



Disappointing addition to the Cynster catalog. Didn't much care for any of the characters. Troubling, because I usually adore Laurens's books.

74. Seredy, Kate - The White Stag - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Part of my quest to read Newbery award and honor books. This is the tale of the origin of the Huns and Atilla the Hun. Told in the manor of a myth, I was riveted to the tale. A bit intense for a children's books these days, but a stunning book. With strikingly haunting illustrations, this book was truly worthy of the award.

75. Tranberg, Charles - Not So Dumb: The Life and Career of Marie Wilson - 5 Stars



I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this biography of Marie Wilson, star of stage, screen, and radio. I generally find her performances annoying, the whole 'dumb blond' routine doesn't do much for me. This biography went into depth about how she created this persona to great success. She brought innocence to the 'dumb blond' act, whereas Marilyn Monroe brought sex to it. Marie Wilson seemed like a sweet, generous lady. Some of the more interesting tidbits: She had problems reading for radio - but there is where she had her most success; she adopted two children, but her daughter was taken back by the birth mother after a heartbreaking court case; she was one of the top WWII pinups - behind only Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable in popularity.

For now this is a keeper. While I'm not a huge fan of her work, I admire her as a woman. Her story is something to be remembered. On the 'to be considered' pile.

76. Kayne, Stacey - Bride of Shadow Canyon - 4 Stars



Jed Doulan is determined to return Rachell Carlson to her sister. But Rachell has troublesome former boss that must be dealt with first. Pretty good western romance.

77. Allard, Harry - Bumps in the Night - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Fun little chapter book about a haunted house, noises, and seances from the genius of Harry Allard and James Marshall. I wish more children were exposed to these greats, but I fear the humor and and the colors are lost on children of today.

78. Fleischman, Paul - Joyful Noise - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Fun poetry book in two voices about bugs and what they do and how they live.

79. Updike, John - A Child's Calendar - 4 Stars - Borrowed



A year worth of poems by John Updike. There is a poem for each month, with wonderfully complementary illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

80. Clifford, Eth - Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library! - 5 Stars - Borrowed



For anyone who has spent a lot of time in a library, a thought has crossed the mind - What if I'm locked in? Mary Rose and Jo-Beth are locked in a library while looking for a bathroom. The encounter possible ghosts, strange noises, a talkative bird, and many more mysterious occurrences. Mystery and adventure surround the pair as they try to get out of the library. I really enjoyed this children's book from the year of my birth.

81. Godden, Rumer - The Dolls' House - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Emily and Charlotte inherit a wonderful Doll House from their great, great aunt. They clean it and make it home for their dolls: Mr. Plantaganet, Birdie, Apple, and a sweet farthing doll named Tottie. When Tottie is sent for display at an exhibition she meets her old nemesis who takes over and changes the pleasant life of those in the Dolls' House. Touching, sweet, and powerful, I adored this wonderful book filled with sweet illustrations by illustrator Tasha Tudor. Strong life lessons told through the eyes of wonderfully deep characters.

82. Ibbotson, Eva - Which Witch? - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Arriman the Awful has been waited for someone to take over as a wicked wizard so he may retire. When that wizard never shows he, Arriman decides that he must bite the bullet and get married. To find the perfect bride, Arriman holds a contest to find the evilest witch for a wife. Funny story. It's a mix of The bachelor and Harry Potter.

You're doing so great again mandymarie!

I didn't know there were books of green knowe, but I am a fan of the film featuring green knowe called 'From Time to Time'. It's beautifully made, staring Maggie Smith and I love it. I have to check out the books now!

83. Anton, Shari - The Conqueror - 3 Stars



Bernard comes back from the Crusades to claim his reward - land and a bride. When his rewards are denied, he kidnaps his 'bride' in order to get some land. Decent romance.

84. Lane, Elizabeth - Wyoming Wildfire - 2 Stars - Discard



Marshall Langtry must bring in a murderer, but the prisoner and his sister claim his innocence. Decent romance, but could be better.

85. Henkes, Kevin - Olive's Ocean - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Martha receives a note from Olive's mother. Olive died in a car crash, and spoke of Martha in her diary. The note changed her life and she takes Olive's dreams to heart as she goes on a family vacation. Touching and sweet, a great tale of coming of age and new birth.

86. Parish, Peggy - Amelia Bedelia Helps Out - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Amelia Bedelia and her niece, Effie Lou, helps out in her usual literal fashion. Pure fun and characteristic Amelia Bedelia confusion.

87. Kherdian, David - The Road From Home - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Stunning view of the Armenian genocides from the voice of a girl. David Kherdian brings his mother's memories to life in this tragic, yet hopeful tale of survival. I was really touched by this book, and I'm glad the me own personal reading challenge forced me to look at a book I might never have known about. While the first few chapters were a bit disjointed because of the jumps in time and the heavy use of Armenian words (many of the definitions were included), the book was so beautiful I definitely think it is a must read. And I'm glad this book exposed me of historical events I was not aware of. A real gem.

88. Lowry, Lois - The Willoughbys - 4 Stars - Borrowed



I was surprised by this book by one of my favorite authors, Lois Lowry. It was written a bit like an old tale, which was the point I think, but it reminded me quite a bit of the Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events books. It was entertaining, but I did not like the premise of the children hating the parents and the parents hating the children, solely because they seemed inconvenienced by each other. Aside from the gentleman colonel, Jane and the baby, I found many of the characters distasteful. I enjoyable read, nonetheless.

89. Creech, Sharon - Walk Two Moons - 5 Stars - Borrowed



I waited for a while to read this one because I seem to have an aversion to reading books people say are fabulous. I guess I just want to be contrary. This book was amazing. Salamanca Tree Hiddle's mother left her family. When her friend Phoebe's mother leaves their family, Salamanca goes on an adventure of discovery. This story was a stunning and beautiful and thought-provoking. I was touched by Salamanca's story and felt those feelings before as a child after my folks divorced. And I also was sympathetic to Salamanca's mother and her feelings of loss and lack of direction - feelings I have often felt as an adult. Why are children's books often so much more realistic and thought-provoking than adult books?

90. Delton, Judy - Pee Wee Scouts 02 - Camp Ghost-Away - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Pee Wee Scouts go on a camping trip with money they earned selling donuts. Ghosts, swimming and boating are fun at camp. I have a soft spot for the Pee Wee Scouts because I loved them as a child so it's a must for me.

91. Delton, Judy - Pee Wee Scouts 03 - Lucky Dog Days - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Pee Wee Scouts become dog walkers because it is Help-a-Pet Month. They also adopt a dog to become their mascot. Fun Pee Wee Scout adventure - another book I loved as a kid.

92. Delton, Judy - Pee Wee Scouts 06 - Peanut-Butter Pilgrims - 5 Stars - Borrowed



The Pee Wee Scouts have a Thanksgiving play but Molly is afraid she will forget her lines. And Sonny gets a turkey. Another fun one that was a childhood favorite.

93. Cassedy, Sylvia - Behind the Attic Wall - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Maggie is a troubled child so she is sent away yet again to another boarding school. Maggie is lonely, so she finds dolls to be friends with. Sad, but powerful book.

94. Hahn, Emily - Mary Queen of Scots - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Informative biography of Mary, Queen of Scots. I found this 1953 biography nice to read because even though it was a bit simplistic in language, it gave all the relevant information and treated Mary in an objective nature. Most biographies of Mary that I have read are so anti-Mary that I find them unbearable to read. This one was not.

95. Kipling, Rudyard - Kim - 5 Stars - Borrowed



I read this book for March 12 in 12. found it a really well-written book and I really enjoyed the journey. The language and the way some words were written took some getting used to and a dictionary on occasion. Perhaps the language was more familiar to readers when the novel was contemporary.

I would recommend it to others. The world was totally engrossing. The journey, more than the plot, was intriguing to me. A great coming of age/finding your true path book which brought to life a unique experience, setting, and time in history.

I enjoyed most of the characters in the book and think it is still stands the test of time, mainly because it seems like such a unique book.

96. Sauer, Julia L. - Fog Magic - 4 Stars



I read this book because my 10 year old sister was required to read it for school and found the language confusing. Having read it myself, I did not find it so, but I read quite a bit so the language and setting were not unusual to me. Having been written in the 1940s, I imagine children of today are not used to the formality that is not prevalent in modern books.

Greta adores the fog, and finds a whole world of long ago when she takes a fog walk one day. The secret is that only one person can find the old village, and only until they reach the age of 12. Interesting premise and generally an enjoyable read. There were some loose ends I wish were finished such as who the legless man was searching for, but I found this Newbery Honor book well worth the time.

HI, I read Kim for the first time last year, I thought it was a wonderful story.

97. Lowry, Lois - Anastasia's Chosen Career - 3 Stars - Borrowed - 12 in 12 Silver Anniversary



I can't believe this book was written 25 years ago. It makes me feel old. Anastasia needs to find a career. She wants to be a model, but her family thinks she should be a bookstore owner. Anastasia decides to take a modeling course and as a compromise, she speaks with a bookstore owner as well. Fun kids book.

98. Byars, Betsy - The Blossoms and the Green Phantom - 3 Stars - Borrowed - 12 in 12 Silver Anniversary



Junior Blossom is making a UFO and the family helps him reach his dream. Generally cute children's family fiction. Perhaps you have to read the earlier books to truly love everyone in the family, but I just found Junior annoying. I didn't want to, but I just found him insufferable. I adored the other family members. It also was quite disturbing to have the grandpa in the dumpster hurt almost the entire book.

99. Byars, Betsy - A Blossom Promise - 2 Stars - Borrowed - 12 in 12 Silver Anniversary (1987)



I really wanted to like this one because I found The Blossoms and the Green Phantom cute, but I found myself angry at the characters the entire time. There was a flood, Pap having a heart attack, Vern acting stupid and almost killing himself by making a river raft, and the mom more concerned about dating than her family. Realistic and well-written, I found this addition into the Blossom library depressing.

100. Dr Seuss - The Cat's Quizzer - 5 Stars - Borrowed



Fun and whimsical quiz book from the master of humor, Dr. Seuss. Accompanied by his wonderful illustrations, learn some real and not so real facts.

101. Dr Seuss - And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street - 5 Stars - Borrowed - Diamond Jubilee - Books Written 75 Years Ago (1937)



Who knew that Dr Seuss was so cute and whimsical so long ago. I can't believe a Dr Seuss book is 75 years old nor that is was written in 1937. This book is about Marco's journey home from school. His father always asks him about what he saw that day when he comes home from school. Today, as usual, he sees only the mundane (a horse and wagon(. But wouldn't it be grand if he saw something spectacular? A definite winner.

102. Sachar, Louis - There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom - 4 Stars - Borrowed - 12 in 12 Silver Anniversary (1987)



I never wanted to read this book when I was a child because I didn't like the cover and from the title, I imagined it was a gross-out book or something that would appeal only to boys. I found the tale of this former misfit who learns how to make friends fun and sweet. The main character, Bradley Chalkers, is interesting because he seems both a bully as well as someone bullied. The initial acceptance of his friend Jeff, then hatred, then re-acceptance seems like a possible school experience. The only part I found frustrating was that I didn't think the end pertaining to the counselor was necessary to get the point of the book across. Surprisingly, enjoyable read.

103. Haywood, Carolyn - Eddie and Gardenia - 4 Stars - Borrowed



Carolyn Haywood books have been on my 'to read' list for a while, sole because as far as older children's literature, these seem to be some of the few books still accessible. In this cute tale, Eddie and his pet sheep, Gardenia (not Petunia) make a trip to his uncle's Texas ranch to find a new home for Gardenia. Cute tale with cute illustrations, I'm glad this one is still around.

104. Wegenast, Bettina - Big Bad Sheep - 4 Stars - Early Reviewer



After the Big Bad Wolf dies, Karl the Sheep is determined to become the next one. So her gets the job on probation. Soon Karl loses everything sheep about him and it's up to his friends to help him find the sheep within himself again. Great story with adorable illustrations by Katharina Busshoff. The only issue I had was the perhaps a few translation issues because the grammar seemed awkward in a few places. Fun read.

105. Counts, Wilma - The Lady and the Footman - 3 Stars - Discard



Lady Allyson almost gets kidnapped and to ensure her safety her father reassigns Captain Nathan Christopher Thornton to protect her. The rub is that Lady Allyson must not know his identity because he is also searching for treasonous spies. Another addition is a little girl ghost who doles out advice and becomes confidant to Lady Allyson. I found the ghost aspect bothersome and not authentic in some aspects of her character.

106. Cornick, Nicola - The Last Rake in London - 1 Star - Discard



Jack Kestrel wishes to regain letters used to blackmail his uncle, so he visits Sally Bowes's club in order to do so. I'm generally not a huge fan of Edwardian romances so that was the first strike against this book. In Edwardian romances I feel like the issue of women's voting is basically the only thing going on and the reader is beaten over the head with the issue and naturally this book was no exception. Meeting the reigning monarch in a romance novel also takes me out of the story a bit. Not only was the King present, but the heroine's club was his favorite and he was frequently there. The third strike was that several of the characters did things that were out of character. I might believe that one or even two might act contradictory to their nature, but when almost everyone does, the book is unbelievable. As a fourth strike, I just find it difficult to believe that a widow would be a virgin. Naturally, this book will be finding a new home.

107. Drake, Shannon - Reckless - 1 Star - Discard



Kat saves a man from drowning. She loves him even though she has never met him. Another man jumps in after her, Hunter MacDonald, whom helps her endlessly for no apparent reason. I wanted to like this one, but so many of the things I don't like about romances were in this one. Another famous person, Arthur Conan Doyle, was buddies with some of the characters; unbelievable occurrences; a red-head who was a pain. Why is it that redheads are always pains in these books? We all aren't that way. We can be sweet and charming, too. So in short, I could barely stomach this one.

108. Disney, Dorothy Cameron - Explosion - 5 stars - Definite keeper!



Fantastic pulp mystery that kept me guessing until the very last sentence. A gas explosion reveals not only destruction, but the murder of a very wealthy woman. But which one of her family members killed her? This book illustrates exactly why I prefer older books. A true mystery, that kept me guessing every second, and didn't need to rely on gore or a multitude of different plots to be suspenseful.

109. Drake, Shannon - Wicked - 3 Stars - Discard



'Beauty and the Beast' meets a Victorian murder mystery. The Earl of Carlyle lives like the beast, hiding in his castle and wearing a mask. Camille shows up at his castle after her guardian injures himself while trying to rob the Earl. Camille works at the museum the Earl's murdered parents gifted, so the Earl uses her to draw out his parents's killers. Decent read, but some aspects not quite true to the period. Everyone wants to marry Camille which seems odd to me since she is an orphan whose guardian is a thief and the men are at the top of society. Yes, it is a fantasy, but some realism is necessary.

110. Barbour, Anne - Miss Prestwick's Crusade - 3 Stars



Miss Prestwick arrives on the Earl of Camberwell's doorstep claiming that the dead earl was not only married to her sister, but also had a son. Unfortunately for her, she has no proof. Edward, the current Earl, would like nothing more than to turn over the title. The problem - can he really believe the girl's story. The book and plot elements were just a bit too messy for the size of the book. Everything just seemed to happen illogically and there were too many plot points. It needed more pages or some elements removed.

Saving this one for later review. I'm not sure if I'll keep this one or not.

111. Beverley, Jo - Hazard - 5 Stars



This book is one of my favorite romances. Jo Beverley has a gift with romance, and this book sure shows it. Anne Peckworth has been ditched twice and is afraid the she is doomed to live a life in an attic or something since she is crippled. Luckily she is the daughter of a duke, so she has the resources to find the love of her life. The problem is she already found him and he's not the son of a peer. Should she follow love or marry a fortune hunter? I have a soft spot for the heroine because I have disabilities myself. It's nice to hear someone like myself have a chance at love (and frankly it is easier to get into the heroine's shoes). The characters were great, the setting good, and I couldn't put this one down.

112. Bergin, Louise - The Winter Duke - 4 Stars



Lydia was unable to find a husband in her first season. Dejected, she seeks solace in sketching in the woods. One day she meets a man she believes is a duke's secretary, only to find out that is none other than the Duke of Winterbourne. Pretty good romance. I did not like how the heroine's personality changed once she found out whom her beloved really was, but I suppose it is a part of human nature to treat those of rank better.

113. Buck, Gayle - The Fleeing Heiress - 4 Stars



Thea Strafford was kidnapped by her sister's beau. Kindly Lord David Cardiff saves her, only to be forced at gunpoint to marry her to save her reputation. Fun romance I couldn't put down.

114. Hahn, Emily - With Naked Foot - 2 Stars - Discard



All the white men in the Congo were lonely, and to satisfy their loneliness, they apparently have a harem of African women. Mawa was the most desirable of these women and everyone fought to have her. Mawa only wanted one thing, to protect her son and would do anything to keep him. Well written, but not a favorite of mine. I couldn't understand why everyone wanted Mawa so badly. I couldn't understand why every man seemed to throw away everything to be with her. Mawa's devotion to her son was admirable, but as a woman reading this, I found that her only admirable quality. It is cool that one of the few other people who own this is Carl Sandburg.

115. Hendrickson, Emily - Drusilla's Downfall - 4 Stars



Drusilla is companion to the Marchioness of Brentford. When the Marchioness's son comes home, he is determined to fire Drusilla. A house party soon brings the two together and Drusilla proves her worth. Pretty good characters and a pretty good romance. Drusilla was to harsh in the beginning and I didn't care for her, but grew to like her as the story continued.

116. DePalma, Mary Newell - Bow-Wow Wiggle-Waggle - 5 Stars - Early Reviewers



Adorable picture book about the adventure of a boy and his dog on a day of play. Animals follow them around using actions, rhyming, and alliteration. The text flows and the pictures flow wonderfully from one page to the next. A couple of the words I'm not sure if young kids would understand the usage ie. using 'flag' as an action, but that might not be a concern since the book flows so well. This is a cute, fun book featuring the classic motif of a boy and his dog, funny animals, sweet illustrations, and a wonderful sing-song voice.

117. Bancroft, Blair - The Lady and the Cit - 4 Stars



Aurelia must marry so she will not lose her beloved home. She chooses a Cit to fit the bill, not knowing she would fall in love with him. Sweet romance with good characters.

118. Bancroft, Blair - The Harem Bride - 4 Stars



Miss Penelope Blayne is captured and forced into a harem. She is rescued by Jason Lisbourne, but not before they must be married. Another sweet romance with good characters.

119. Carleton, Susannah - The Marriage Campaign - 3 Stars - Discard



Robert Symington must choose a bride from the list of those listed in his father's will. But he is unable to meet Karla Lane because her stepmother has banished her and basically made her a servant in her own home. Interesting story. I enjoyed the male lead, but thought the efforts of the stepmother did not make sense.

120. Harrington, Kathleen - The MacLean Groom - 5 Stars



One of my favorite romances. Two feuding clans are united through a marriage forced by the king. Naturally things don't run smoothly. The characters are fantastic and a definite keeper in my collection.

121. Potter, Ellen - Pish Posh - 4 Stars - Discard



Clara Frankofile is a decider of who is a "Somebody" and who is a "Nobody". Suddenly her world is turned upside down when she examines what is really important. Cute story about what is truly important in life. With a mysterious centuries old mystery thrown in, this is sweet juvenile fiction.

122. Papademetriou, Lisa - Save the Cupcake! - 5 Stars - Discard



Everything is changing in Hayley's life: her parents are recently divorced, her friends no longer her own, and she may not even be able to bring her beloved cupcakes to school anymore. This book really is quite true to the experience. Even if you have not experienced Hayley's situations exactly, some of us are more sensitive to change than others. Aside from cupcakes, I have felt the feelings Hayley has felt. The author brought these to life quite well.

123. Carleton, Susannah - A Twist of Fate - 5 Stars



Lord David Winterbrook aids poor Madeline Grave in a snowstorm and insists that she is the love of her life. Madeline is a widow who is traumatized by her first marriage, and David must convince her to take a second chance at life. Well written and seems to flow in real-time. A true-to-life tale that makes one believe in the power of true love.

124. Frampton, Megan - A Singular Lady - 4 Stars



Titania must marry for money so she won't lose her family home and servants (whom she considers family). She has unfortunately fallen in love, and tries to deny her love for duty. Sweet romance with a good male lead and a fun bluestocking heroine.

125. Hendrickson, Emily - Lord Nick's Folly - 3 Stars - Discard



Lord Nick's folly is a golf course. On the golf course he is building, someone is murdered. His neighbor Nympha catches his eye, along with several others since it is found she will soon be an heiress. Decent romance.

126. Paul, Elliot - Mayhem in B Flat - 5 Stars



Exciting mystery set in glorious Paris. A priceless violin is stolen during a packed concert. The discovery of the substituted fake leads to the discovery of a murder. Fast paced mystery with lots of twists and turns as well as wonderful characters. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series! I could not put this one down. What a treat a vintage mystery is.

127. Hendrickson, Emily - My Lady Faire - 3 Stars - Discard



Lord Hawke has decided that he will marry the widow next door. He spends the entire book convincing her that they are perfect for each other. The Fair has very little to do with the actual plot of this book. Since both the neighbor and the widow are guardian to her stepson, the two come into contact constantly. There are several broken bones, crabby townsfolk, and a delusional vicar which makes the plot even more convoluted and unconvincing. The book was written well, it just bothers me that Hendrickson seems to always start out with the man loving the woman without knowing a thing about her I find it difficult to immerse myself in the tale. It probably does not help that the widow sees fairies and then at the end Lord Hawke does too. I'm just too jaded to enjoy this fanciful aspect.

More than halfway toward your goal - well done. I seem to be lagging somewhat this year, keep getting distracted by library books!

128. Stephens, Monique Z - The Berrylicious Bake-Off - 4 Stars



Cute story of a Strawberry Shortcake and friends building the best cake ever with scratch and sniff areas.

129. Anderson, R.P. - Golden Egg Hunt - 4 Stars



My Little Ponies search for a golden egg during an egg hunt.

130. dePaola, Tomie - Helga's Dowry - 5 Stars



One of my favorite books as a child. Helga decides to earn a dowry so she can marry the man she loves. But she meets a better man in the bargain. As a child, I found Helga a strong, resourceful person. And as a "troll" myself, I thought it wonderful she got the better man.

131. Heyward, Du Bose - The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes - 5 Stars



Mother bunny wants to be an Easter bunny. But what to do with all her youngins'? Good thing everyone has a job and can take care of themselves. Cute illustrations by Marjorie Flack highlight this take on the tale of the Easter Bunny.

132. dePaola, Tomie = The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog - 5 Stars



Classic nursery rhyme of Old Mother Hubbard with the wonderful illustrations by Tomie dePaola. Each page illustrates half of a line of the rhyme so that it looks like a scene from a play. One of my favorite illustrated books.

133. dePaola, Tomie - An Early American Christmas = 5 Stars



How Christmas came to be celebrated in colonial Pennsylvania, and America as a whole. Wonderful illustrations by Tomie dePaola lead the eye up and down the page while telling the story of how Christmas is celebrated.

134. Lindgren, Astrid - The Tomten - 5 Stars



The classic tale of the Tomten Christmas story and how he protects a family. Very cute telling of the Swedish Tomten.

135. Bishop, Claire Huchet - The Five Chinese Brothers - 4 Stars



Retelling of a Chinese tale where five brothers take turns saving one of their own who is in trouble. Simple illustrations highlight this classic tale.

136. George, Gail - The Popples' Pajama Party - 5 Stars



The cute Popples who hide in your home hear the kids are having a pajama party and decide they want to help. One of my favorite books when I was a child, I remember buying this at my school's bookfair when I was in second grade. I also remember writing a book report on it, which I still have. I loved the illustrations and was fascinated by the illustrations, especially the instruments they make like false teeth.

137. Chandler, A.C. - The Puppy Nobody Wanted - 5 Stars



Another stray puppy comes to the attention of Cooler and the gang. The Pound Puppies come to its rescue and find it a home. Another book I remember buying at a school bookfair as a child. Fond memories. It's also fun to see how I drew my name in crayons inside the cover. A definite keeper for that reason alone.

138. Kovacs, Deborah - The Evening Song - 5 Stars

I adored Moon Dreamers as a child, so I have a fondness for this book. Something seems to be causing the children of the world to have bad dreams, so the Moon Dreamers create a radio station and Bucky plays records so the children have pleasant dreams.

139. Marcelle, Harriet - The Dream Machine - 5 Stars

Another childhood favorite. Children of the world are having bad dreams again, so the Moon Dreamers must come up with a plan to give the children good dreams.

140. Benjamin, Ruth - The Missing Recipe - 5 Stars



Sweetberry is making a pie for a contest, but can't find her recipe. So she decides to make a pie through use of her imagination. Story is told in a fun rebus way.

141. Newell, Peter - The Hole Book - 5 Stars



One of my favorite books as a child. Tom Potts accidentally fires a gun and the bullet travels around causing funny chaos wherever it goes. Groundbreaking, intriguing, fabulously illustrated - this is a definite classic. I received this book from my Grandma Jan as a prize for good homework 11/14/1985.

142. Johnston, Tony - The Vanishing Pumpkin - 4 Stars - Discard



A pumpkin has vanished from a man and woman's pumpkin patch. Magic surrounds the mystery of what happened to the pumpkin.

143. Brickman - Sure You Can 'Do It Yourself' - 4 Stars



Fun comic cartoons about home repair and the relationship and issues between a husband who just isn't that great at home repair. Funny how comics written in 1955 can still be right on the mark.

144. Bancroft, Blair - A Season for Love - 3 Stars



Lady Caroline goes to London hoping to prevent her estranged father from remarriage. This romance changed perspective between the heroine and the heroine's future stepmother.

145. Bergin, Louise - A Worthy Opponent - 4 Stars



Judith is a fortune hunter who takes matters into her own hands and throws herself in front of a wealthy man's carriage, literally. The man's friend thinks their is something fishy going on. A house party is sure to bring the plot to light.

146. Moore, Margaret - Highland Heiress - 4 Stars



Lady Moira ends an engagement only to find herself sued for breach of promise. But the man's lawyer soon catches her heart.

147. March, Catherine - The Brigadier's Daughter - 5 Stars



Alexandra's sister is to marry Captain Reid Bowen. But her sister decides to run away to Gretna with someone else. To save family honor, Alexandra fills in for her sister, and the captain need never know. Wonderful romance.

148. Carleton, Susannah - Twin Peril - 4 Stars



Lord Michael must wed so he makes a list and meets everyone on that list. He decides to marry Deborah, an identical twin. Her twin, Diana, takes it into her head that Michael should marry her - not Deborah. Interesting to see the evolution of characters from other books.

149. Hendrickson, Emily - Pursuing Priscilla - 4 Stars



Priscilla comes to London and is immediately escorted around by Lord Latimer. The problem is he seems more interested in her reputation than her heart. Delightful romance.

150. Mansfield, Elizabeth - An Encounter with Venus - 2 Stars - Discard



George Frobisher saw Olivia naked accidentally 10 years ago. When he meets her again at a house party, he is surprised how she looks nothing like the woman of his dreams. Disappointing romance. I did not like the heroine's personality and sharp tongue, so I wasn't able to cheer for this couple, and frankly saw no reason for them to be together in the first place.

151. Greene, Elena - The Redwyck Charm - 2 Stars - Discard



Julianna is to marry Marcus but does not want to. So instead of even meeting him, she runs away and becomes and opera dancer. Marcus becomes enamored of the opera dancer Julianna has become and must decide if he loves her or the role she plays. Another heroine I felt no sympathy for so could not cheer for the couple. I found her spoiled and disrespectful, hence the book is out of my collection.

152. McElfresh, Adeline - Nurse Kathy - 4 Stars



One night a man is brought to the emergency ward where Kathy works. He has amnesia, and several people try to kill him. As his nurse, Kathy must protect him and herself from a mystery killer. I'm not a fan of medical books, tv, etc, because of all the medical problems I have, so I almost didn't read this book. It turned out to be quite a good mystery.

153. Gag, Wanda - Gone is Gone - 5 Stars



Fun picture book about a husband who thinks women's work is soooo much easier than a man's. Naturally, it isn't and the husband makes a mess of things. Fun story about the relationship between husbands and wives.

154. Gag, Wanda - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - 5 Stars



Wonderful take on on Snow White with wonderful illustrations.

155. Gag, Wanda - The Funny Thing - 5 Stars



A Funny Thing only eats dolls that belong to good children, so Bobo makes the Funny Thing some food to feed his vanity.

156. Gag, Wanda - Millions of Cats - 5 Stars



Classic book about a man who takes home millions of cats who take over the countryside and eventually each other.

157. Gag, Wanda - Snippy and Snappy - 5 Stars



Snippy and Snappy explore the countryside in an effort to find a house with cheese.

158. Bishop, Laurie - Lord Ryburn's Apprentice - 4 Stars



Georgiana is abandoned by her mother at school. One day a long lost relative takes her home to give her a season, but she finds herself falling in love with the woman's nephew. Pretty good romance.

159. Seuss, Dr - McElligot's Pool - 5 Stars



Classic Seuss. Imagine the impossible that can occur from everyday events. My favorite - the checkerboard belly fish.

160. Seuss, Dr - The Sneetches and Other Stories - 5 Stars



Classic Seuss. I adored this one as a child because it made me feel wonderful for being different. And of course, the story about "Too Many Daves" named one of the Daves Oliver Boliver Butt, which was hilarious as a child.

161. Seuss, Dr - Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? - 5 Stars



Read this if life seems too hard. My mom would as a child. When things seem difficult, the people in this book seem to be having a much more difficult time.

162. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Go To School - 5 Stars



One of my favorite Berenstain Bears books. The simple story of the fear involved in going to a new place, in this case school. I found the illustrations particularly delightful as a child, especially Sister Bear's giant clay doughnut.

163. Ahlberg, Janet and Allan - The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters - 5 Stars



I adore the "Jolly Postman". It was a book ahead of its time. Now so many books are made with ephemera pockets and flaps, but this was one of the first. I remember reading this when it first came out and loved it immediately.

164. Allard, Harry and Marshall, James - Miss Nelson Has a Field Day - 5 Stars



The wonderfully horrible Viola Swamp must whip the football team into shape so they can win the big game. Hilarious! Miss Nelson books are wonderfully delightful.

165. Allard, Harry and Marshall, James - Miss Nelson is Back - 5 Stars



Miss Nelson must get her tonsils out. The children act up, so once again Viola Swamp must whip the children into shape. Hilarious!

166. Joyce, Irma - Never Talk to Strangers - 5 Stars



I remember watching this documentary in school. One of those can't forget moments. I clearly remember reading this book, too. I am disappointed that the version of this book that was published a few years ago changed the illustrations a bit. The originals are amazing.

167. The Rand McNally Book of Favorite Bible Stories and Verses - 5 Stars



I fondly remember reading this book as a child. Glorious illustrations reminiscent of the 1950s highlight the Bible stories and prayers in this book. I can't tell you how many times I read this book as a child. The inscription in my copy - "My dear little girls Amanda and Jennarose Love Grandma Jan". Luckily I am the saver in the family so the book remains in my possession.

168. Cinderella - 5 Stars



Classic golden book of the story of Cinderella from the Disney film.

169. Alice in Wonderland - 5 Stars



Gorgeous illustrations highlight this telling of how Alice met the white rabbit.

170. Potter, Marian - The Little Red Caboose - 5 Stars



The Little Red Caboose thinks he is not important, but when the train starts falling down a hill, the red caboose finds out how important he really is. Gorgeous illustrations illustrate the sweet book.

171. Stone, Jon - The Monster at the End of This Book - 5 Stars



Cute, classic Little Golden Book. Grover is afraid that a monster is at the end of this book and warns the reader not to turn the page. But the reader must keep turning the page, much to Grover's dismay.

172. Crampton, Gertrude - Scuffy the Tugboat - 5 Stars



Scuffy decides that he must explore the wide world. But is the world too big for Scuffy? Very cute book I loved as a child.

173. Reed, Mary and Osswald, Edith - Numbers What They Look Like and What They Do - 5 Stars



A classic book about counting with some gorgeous 1950s illustrations. Counting never looked so wonderful. A childhood favorite.

174. Odor, Ruth Shannon - A Child's Book of Manners - 5 Stars

One of my favorite books as a child. I loved the illustrations in this book as well as the simple way it taught someone how to learn about manners. Really disappointed to see the illustrations on the reprint edition of the book. The new illustrations make the book seem vapid and boring, while the originals were really eye-catching.

175. Crampton, Gertrude - Tootle - 5 Stars



Tootle loves to run in the meadows, but he is supposed to stay on the tracks. A book about following the rules. Childhood favorite.

176. Hazen, Barbara Shook - Raggedy Ann and the Cookie Snatcher - 5 Stars



One of my childhood favorites. Raggedy Ann makes cookies, but they disappeared. I loved the language of this book. My favorite pages were when the cookie shapes were compared to people's favorite objects - round cookie like a ball, square like blocks, triangle like a tepee, and heart like a locket.

177. Wright, Dare - The Lonely Doll - 5 Stars



Stunningly sweet tale of a lonely doll and her search for friends told through black and white photography.

178. Wright, Dare - Edith and Mr. Bear - 5 Stars



Mr. Bear gets a beautiful clock which Edith, Lonely Doll, accidentally breaks. She lies about it and runs away, upset with her lie. Startling sweet tale told through Wright's haunting photography.

179. Wright, Dare - A Gift From the Lonely Doll - 5 Stars



Lonely Doll Edith makes a scarf for Mr. Bear, but Little Bear teases her about it and tells her it is horrible. Sweet book told through black and white photography.

180. Seuss, Dr - Hunches in Bunches - 5 Stars



The wonderful Dr. Seuss tries to describe the elusive thing known as a hunch.

181. Piper, Watty - The Little Engine That Could - 5 Stars



The classic guide to positive thinking. I adored this book as a child for it made me believe I could do anything I set my mind to. The original illustrations are delightful, and as a child I simply adored looking at all the sweets and treats one could find on the train. The new illustrations are not even close to enchanting and way to cartoonish to be born.

182. De Brunhoff, Jean - The Story of Babar - 5 Stars



The tale of how Babar became "a man" and ruled a kingdom. Another childhood classic with its realistic joys and dangers.

183. Kohara, Kazuno - Ghosts in the House! - 5 Stars



Story of a little girl, a house, and some ghosts who get along quite splendidly. Adorable illustrations make this book more fun than scary.

184. Pienkowski, Jan - Little Monsters - 5 Stars - Discard



There is a little monster at the end of this book and its you! Fun pop-up.

185. Pienkowski, Jan - Dinner Time - 5 Stars



"Dinner Time" was one of my favorites as a child, Spooky and a pop-up. So glad they reissued it.

186. Pienkowski, Jan - Haunted House - 5 Stars



A scary haunted house with lots of fun pop-ups.

187. Eastman, P.D. - The Best Nest - 5 Stars



Two birds try to find the home. But your home is always best. I adored this book as a child because no matter how rosy things seem at someone else's, your home is always best. Definite keeper.

188. Eastman, P.D. - Are You My Mother - 5 Stars



A classic story of love between a mother and child. Timeless.

189. Seuss, Dr - One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish - 5 Stars



A delightful Seuss classic about all kinds of fish and nonsense animals. Possibly my favorite Seuss.

190. Seuss, Dr - Dr. Seuss's ABC - 5 Stars



One of my favorite Dr Seuss books. A delightful, whimsical take on the alphabet. And where else would I have heard about a Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz?

191. Seuss, Dr - Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! - 5 Stars



Thinks only Dr Seuss could think of. Delightful.

192. Palmer, Helen - A Fish Out of Water - 5 Stars



A little boy feeds his fish way too much food and catastrophic things occur.

193. Lopshire, Robert - Put Me in the Zoo - 5 Stars



An animal wants to be in the zoo because he is so fabulous, but is the zoo the best place for such a wonder? Cute book.

194. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Bears' Picnic - 5 Stars



One of the classics from childhood. I love this tale of searching for the perfect picnic spot, which is home. I prefer the original grittier illustrations to the revised ones.

195. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree - 5 Stars



The Bears explore a spooky, old tree they find taking them on an adventure. Fun, simple, spooky tale.

196. Bowden, Joan Chase - The Ginghams The Backward Picnic - 4 Stars



Sarah wants to have a picnic, so in a round about way, she has her picnic. Cute illustrations.

197. Brown, Margaret Wise - The Golden Egg Book - 5 Stars



Bunny finds an egg and wonders what is inside it. Cute, classic book. Sweet story of friendship. Another childhood favorite.

198. Mickey Mouse The Kitten-Sitters - 4 Stars



Mickey and Pluto must babysit Minnie's cat. The only problem is, Minnie's cat is trouble. Remember liking this book as a child.

199. Buettner, Carl - Donald Duck, Lost and Found - 4 Stars



Donald Duck gets lost in Disneyland and Goofy and Mickey Mouse are on the trail to find him. Delightful illustrations of Disneyland attractions long lost.

200. Mickey Mouse and the Great Lot Plot - 4 Stars



Mickey Mouse wants to earn enough money to build a ball field for the children to play baseball. But Scrouge McDuck wants to buy the lot for a pickled preserve factory. I enjoyed this as a child.

201. Goodman, Joan Elizabeth - Amanda's First Day of School - 5 Stars



Amanda is afraid of going to school, but it turns out her first day went just fine. I read this before I went to school, and found it sweet.

202. Bedford, Annie North - Donald Duck and the Witch - 5 Stars



Donald Duck and his nephews enjoy the friendship of a witch on Halloween. Cute Donald Duck story with wonderful illustrations.

203. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright - 4 Stars



I often get stage fright, so when I was a child I found this book particularly helpful. Also works in situations of anxiety of public speaking.

204. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears In the Dark - 4 Stars - Discard



Even though I was not scared of the dark as a child, I found this book comforting because it addresses a fear that is difficult for many children.

205. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter - 5 Stars



One of my favorite Berenstain Bear books to read aloud. It was definitely fun to read voices with this one, so it's a keeper.

206. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Truth - 5 Stars



One of my favorite Berenstain Bear books with the simple message of always telling the truth.

207. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Friends - 4 Stars - Discard



Lesson worth learning, but I was never a fan of Lizzy Bruin.

208. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's - 4 Stars



Sister and Brother Bear spend the week at their grandparents so Mama and Papa Bear can have a second honeymoon. Addresses fear of a new place and parental separation.

209. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest - 4 Stars



The Bear Scouts go on a camping trip and Papa Bear is determined to scare them. Fun story.

210. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and Mama's New Job - 4 Stars



Mama decides that she needs to start a career. She takes her quilts to market after several people try to buy them. Women's lib, children's book style. I loved looking at the pictures of Mama's quilts when I was a child.

211. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day - 5 Stars - Discard



The Berenstain Bears need a larger house and Brother Bear is nervous about the move. Reassuring tale about moving into a new home.

212. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners - 5 Stars



Manners 101 told through the delightful Berenstain Bears. A must for all households. Why don't they publish more manners books these days?

213. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers - 4 Stars - Discard



The Berenstain Bears learn how to act around strangers. Some good tips for children.

214. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare - 4 Stars - Discard



Brother gets dared to steal one of Farmer Ben's watermelons. A lesson in peer pressure.

215. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Eager Beavers - 3 Stars - Discard



Neighbors are nervous when beavers move into an abandoned home because they work all the time and don't know how to have fun. A lesson in tolerance.

216. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat - 4 Stars - Discard



Halloween trick or treating in Bear County. A lesson in fear and prejudice.

217. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp - 4 Stars - Discard



The Berenstain Bears go to summer camp and are afraid at first, but learn to love it.

218. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Cook-It! - 4 Stars - Discard



Papa, Brother, and Sister Bear decide to make Mama Bear breakfast in bed for her birthday. A story accompanied with cooking tips to make your mother breakfast in bed.

219. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears and the Slumber Party - 4 Stars - Discard



Sister goes to a slumber party, but acts terribly. A lesson in responsibility.

220. Berenstain, Stan and Jan - The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear - 4 Stars - Discard



The Berenstain Bears meet Santa Bear and learn about the Christmas spirit.

221. Krugman, Karen - The Missing Wedding Dress - 3 Stars - Discard



Tracy's wedding dress is missing and it is up to Barbie and Skipper to find it. Cute Barbie Little Golden Book.

222. Sanderson, Ruth - The Twelve Dancing Princesses - 4 Stars - Discard



The classic tale of the twelve dancing princesses with gorgeous illustrations.

223. Martin, Bill - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - 5 Stars



Classic storytime book with a coconut tree and the alphabet.

I love looking through your thread, brings back so many childhood memories, and helps me find interesting new books for my children (well, me and them!)

Thanks for stopping by amz310783!

224. Brown, Margaret Wise - Goodnight Moon - 5 Stars



Classic bedtime story. Soothing and sweet.

225. Henkes, Kevin - A Good Day - 4 Stars



What started out as a bad day for those of the forest became a good day. Wonderfully bright illustrations by Henkes.

226. Disney, Walt - Cinderella - 5 Stars



Classic story of Cinderella in Disney manner.

227. Little Songs of Long Ago - 4 Stars



Gorgeous illustrations accompany this books of classic nursery rhymes. Worth the illustrations alone.

228. Potter, Beatrix - The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle - 5 Stars



Mrs Tiggy-Winkle the the laundress to the forest. Sweet illustrations accompany this classic Potter tale. Who thought a hedgehog would be so cute?

229. Ahlberg, Janet and Allan - The Jolly Christmas Postman - 4 Stars



The Jolly Postman is back to deliver Christmas to the fairy tale creatures.

230. Silverstein, Shel - The Giving Tree - 5 Stars



The story of the love of a tree for her boy. Like the relationship between parents and children. They give and give until they have nothing left. A beautiful tale, but slightly depressing. I wish the boy had given more back without seeming so selfish.

231. Williams, Margery - The Velveteen Rabbit - 5 Stars



Classic tale of how the velveteen rabbit became real. I always thought this a sad tale for not only did the boy become ill but he forgot his beloved toy. I know the rabbit became real in the end, but I always felt sad for the rabbit when I read this as a child. I couldn't read it without crying.

232. Nosetalgia - 5 Stars



A fun book about remembering your favorite smells with 10 scratch and sniff areas. A trip down memory lane written in phrases or just single words in which to invoke a mental image and remembered scent.

233. Lenski, Lois - The Little Family - 5 Stars



The story of the Little Family and what they do in the week. Lenski's illustrations are the star of the show in this cute picture book.

234. Lenski, Lois - Papa Small - 5 Stars



Papa Small tells the story of the Small Family as they go about their weekly business. Cute illustrations support this tale.

235. Silverstein, Shel - Where the Sidewalk Ends - 5 Stars



Classic Shel Silverstein poetry with his wonderful drawings and humor. I loved this book as a child. My favorite poems then: Boa Constrictor, Crocodile's Toothache, Hug o' War, Ickle Me, pickle Me, Tickle Me Too, Pancake?, and Sick.

236. Potter, Beatrix - A Treasury of Peter Rabbit and Other Stories - 5 Stars



Five of the classic Beatrix Potter tales: Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin, Two Bad Mice, and Jeremy Fisher. My favorite as a child was "Two Bad Mice" because I loved the illustrations of the doll house. I thought it was so cute how they took over. Now that I am older, the image of the mother mouse with a cradle full of mice babies is really disturbing from a cleanliness point of view.

237. Hefter, Richard - Very Worried Walrus - 3 Stars - Discard



Sweet Pickles book in which Worried Walrus is afraid of all the calamity that will occur if he rides a bicycle. I have fond memories of Sweet Pickles as a child and as a worried individual, I can sympathize with Worried Walrus.

238. Johnson, Robyn - The Enchanted Doll' House - 5 Stars



History of Dollhouses through different periods in history. It also gives wonderful information about customs of the periods through wonderful illustrations, short text blocks, flaps, and pop-up houses.

239. Johnson, Robyn - The Enchanted Dolls' House Wedding - 5 Stars



A history of weddings through the delightful pop-ups, flaps, and ephemera through the eyes of a Victorian dollhouse.

240. Leslie, Sarah - Rainbow Brite and the Brook Meadow Deer - 4 Stars - Discard



The meadow is brown and dead, so Rainbow Brite and the Color Kids must get their color crystals there immediately so the deer have things to eat.

241. The Golden Book of Poems for the Very Young - 4 Stars



Sweet poems with wonderful illustrations by one of my favorite illustrators, Joan Walsh Anglund.

242. Asch, Frank - Popcorn - 5 Stars



One of my favorite books from the illustrations alone. I loved the idea of an overflowing pot of popcorn as a child. It took me a while to find a reasonably priced one again, but thankfully I have found one again. Who knew "Popcorn" was so popular?

243. Disney, Walt - Pinocchio and His Puppet Show Adventure - 3 Stars - Discard



Classic Disney tale of Pinocchio and how he came to be part of the puppet show. I have to say I always thought Pinocchio was creepy as a child and quite selfish, so I'm passing this on, hopefully to someone who isn't creeped out like me.

244. Disney, Walt - Brer Rabbit and His Friends - 3 Stars



Brer Rabbit and his pals antics in the woods. I'd save it for the controversy alone.

245. Disney, Walt - The Brave Little Tailor - 4 Stars



Mickey claims he can kill a giant, but can he really? Cute Disney tale.

246. Disney, Walt - The Mickey Mouse Make-It Book - 4 Stars



Crafts to make with Mickey Mouse and pals.

247. Disney, Walt - The Mickey Mouse Magic Book - 5 Stars



Mickey Mouse teaches some simple magic tricks. Fond memories of trying out these tricks as a child.

248. Disney, Walt - Donald Duck and the Magic Stick - 5 Stars



Donald sends his nephews out to make their way in the world. They all learn a valuable lesson by getting fleeced. Through magic, they find reward. I loved the illustrations in this book as a child, especially the table full of food.

249. Disney, Walt - Button Soup - 5 Stars



Classic tale like Stone Soup with Scrouge McDuck and Daisy Duck. One of my all-time childhood favorites. I loved the story and the illustrations.

250. Disney, Walt - The Princess Who Never Laughed - 5 Stars



There is a princess who never laughs and Goofy's goofiness causes her to laugh again.

251. Disney, Walt - The Mystery of the Missing Peanuts - 3 Stars



Donald Duck is on the trail of missing peanuts in the zoo. Cute children's picture book.

252. Disney, Walt - The Sorcerer's Apprentice - 3 Stars



Classic tale of the sorcerer's apprentice with Mickey Mouse as the student.

253. Kaufman, Joe - The Toy Book - 4 Stars



Cute shape and color book with sweet illustrations of toys.

254. Pfloog, Jan - The Dog Book - 5 Stars



Cute book about many kinds of dogs. Grandma Jan taped a copy of this book to her back door window to scare away solicitors and the like. It was there a good decade or so before she put up someone she deems scarier.

255. Scarry, Richard - The Bunny Book - 5 Stars



Cute book about different kinds of rabbits. Wonderful illustrations by Richard Scarry.

256. Parish, Peggy - Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower - 4 Stars



Mrs Rogers is holding a baby shower and Amelia Bedelia, through her usual confusion, makes the shower quite memorable. One of my favorite childhood illustrations was Amelia "icing" the fish.

257. Hargreaves, Roger - Squawk - 4 Stars



Squawk is a sort of bird who sings terribly. Thankfully, he learns how to whistle so his neighbors are not bothered. These Timbuktu books are fun. Too bad they didn't catch on in America.

258. Hargreaves, Roger - Croak - 4 Stars



Croak is a sort of frog that can't even swim. His friends come up with a plan to get Croak to learn how to swim.

259. Hargreaves, Roger - Baa - 4 Stars



Baa is a sort of sheep who is constantly mistaking things and but thinks the others are the problem. Cute granny sheep.

260. Hargreaves, Roger - Cluck - 4 Stars



Cluck is a sort of hen who frankly, isn't very smart. Never thought I'd see someone eating a cornflake sandwich.

261. Bancroft, Blair - The Major Meets His Match - 4 Stars



Vanessa is the word of the Tyrone. When a distant cousin comes back, Vanessa is incensed that she should become his ward. But with plots all around them, love follows. Pretty good romance. I was definitely surprised by who was the "bad guy".

262. Brooks, Bethany - Her Perfect Earl - 4 Stars



Julian Armstrong is perfect and Esmerelda wants that perfection. As well as to translate a valuable manuscript he is reported to have. Enjoyable romance with lovable characters.

263. Blume, Lesley M.M. - Let's Bring Back - 5 Stars



One of the most delightful books I've read all year. Filled with wonderfully elegant and delightful things, I enjoyed every second of this book. A true gem.

At 263 books I think I'll stark over with a new challenge in July. I blasted through a bunch of picture books the past several days, an entire Rubbermaid tub's worth, and my brain is fried. My June stats reflect up until June 13.

Lotsof childhood memories here, Mandymarie. I always cried when I read The Velveteen Rabbit as well.

Some of the Berenstain Bears books are really taking me back. (My favourites were Go to School and Messy Room.) And WHOA! Amanda's First Day of School! I had that book too and had completely forgotten about it until I saw your post. Thanks for that blast from the past :)

Glad to take y'all down memory lane. I enjoyed the trip myself.