Roald Dahl

By this time last year, I had devoured plenty of books. It was an unquenchable desire to read and read....and a bit melancholy when the book was over (not true for EVERY book, but almost). This year, I cannot for the life of me get into reading. A dry spell. I've tried. I have 6 pages of books on my kindle that I haven't read. No first page has hooked me into read past the first few pages.

I've missed reading terribly and I wondered if the books stunk or if I was booked out. Maybe I just needed a break.

That was the thought until I picked up Roald Dahl's Matilda!! OMG! If you haven't read it, YOU SHOULD. Sure it's a kiddy book, but you should still read it.

You're still not sure?

Well, let me give you a short excerpt:

It's a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful.
Some parents go further. They become so blinded by adoration they manage to convince themselves their child has qualities of genius.
Well, there is nothing wrong with all this. It's the way of the world. It is only when the parents begin telling us about the brilliance of their own revolting offspring that we start shouting, "Bring us a basin! We're going to be sick!"

It goes on! And it's had me laugh out loud more than once! Maybe that's what I needed. I laugh. I've DEVOURED it!

I'm considering reading the rest of Roald Dahl's collection. Maybe even work on getting all his books in my library. That would be LOVELY!

Books of 2011 - Part 1

So, as you know, I love lists. One of the lists I keep, as of 2009, is Books I've Read. If you want you can check out the 2009 list and the 2010 list. I usually post this at the end of the year, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to do it now and then do a part 2 later in the year....since I have the time to do it. Anyway, I digress. Without further ado, here are the books I've read so far this year:

1. A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis
   I cried most of the way through. I think it was my way of grieving the death of some friends. I'm thankful for Lewis's eloquence in the midst of grief. My words fail me all too often.


2. The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua
   This woman is nuts. I have no idea how her pace is sustainable. I would like to know if she takes meds to regulate her blood pressure. One thing is for sure - it worked for her kids. Kuddos to her!


3. Choosing to See, Mary Beth Chapman
   Wow. Kleenex please. Mary Beth Chapman is brave to tell the story of losing her precious Maria. She continues the story with God's faithfulness in bringing them through the hard times.


4. The Help, Kathryn Stockett
   Had I not been reading this while school was in session, I would have read it in a day. I wanted to read it every waking moment...I couldn't wait to know what was going to happen next. Seriously kept me on the edge of my seat!
   One of my friends has always mentioned how stupid women can be when they decide to tear each other apart rather than come together - seriously, girls can be so MEAN!! The Help would be an example of both sides - encourage/tear down. I hope we're wise enough to rise above...
   "Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."


5. Something Borrowed, Emily Griffin
   Mindless reading. Sometimes we need it. Cheesy.


6. Something Blue, Emily Griffin
   See #5


7. Leota's Garden, Francine Rivers
   CHEESY!! It has a good message of forgiving and reconciling relationships, but I say it was a big piece of cheese! I still think Redeeming Love is her best book! I also heard that the Mark of the Lion series is really good too. I'll get to it eventually.


8. Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances, Kimberly L. Smith
   Wow. This makes me question how much I'm willing to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. Serving Christ is not cookie cutter or safe, per se.


9. This Time Together: Laughter & Reflection, Carol Burnett
   HILARIOUS! She makes me want to find the humor in the simple things in life. Laughing is good medicine after all. If you decide to read it, when you get to the chapter "Fans" imagine me laughing out loud.


10. How to Get a Date Worth Keeping, Henry Cloud
    I was intrigued by the title, so I read it. The advice I've taken has provided fun times...and great discussions with friends.


11. Beauty and the Beast, Marie Le Prince De Beaumont
    Free book on the kindle so I read it. And there you have it.


12. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home, Rhoda Janzen
    Hmmm...I found this book depressing. I think some of her tragedy was supposed to be somewhat comedic, but I honestly felt sad for her.


13. When Cows Fly, Tom Watson
    Free kid book on the Kindle. It's all about being green.


14. The Guernsy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel, Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
    Such a fun book of friendship and how this society came together to survive the awful times of WWII. I loved the character development and to think it was done in the form of LETTERS! I heart snail mail!! :o)


15. The Pastor's Wife, Jennifer Allen
    CHEESY! Okay - so I can totally relate to some of the feelings described in this book since my dad is a pastor. However, it's like the cheesy christianese type stuff. As if life were wrapped in pretty paper and finished off with a perfect bow. Whatever - it's a book. I'll let it go.


16. Spaces and Places: Designing Classrooms for Literacy, Debbie Diller
    I got to work alongside Debbie for a day earlier in the year. It was fun to go through her book and think through things in my classroom. By the way, I think I already have mad organization skills in a classroom setting, so some of it was like - DUH! But it's a great teacher resource if you need it!!


17. Tiger, Tiger: A Memoir, Margaux Fragaso
    Not going to lie - it was very DIFFICULT for me to get through this book. It is soooo WRONG! It makes me cringe/sickens me/disturbs me...and it makes me want to take someone out! Unfortunately, it is the truth some children are faced with. I wonder if we're willing to see it in order to protect them.
    "One thing I've learned through my writing is that because my grandparents didn't openly deal with the sexual assaults of my mom and aunt as children, the trauma was passed down unchecked. My mother had no idea how to recognize trouble, or to shield me from it. But insisting on silence and forgetting, my grandparents were probably trying to protect their daughters from more harm, but my own story is proof that they were tragically mistaken."


18. Relentless Hope: Extracting the Precious from the Worthless, Beth Guckenburger
    One of my friends said that it was a book of one sad story after the other. Really - what it is, is finding hope where you think there is none. How God takes the beauty from the ashes. How when you think life is most hopeless - and it can be very dark time - you don't give up. God, Emmanuel, is with us!


19. Castaway Kid: One Man's Search for Hope and a Home, R. B. Mitchell
    I cried. Laughed. Hurt. Became angry...He not only has an incredibly story of redemption, but an amazing ability to tell it. This book goes on my favorites list. If you want to work with children who have lost their parents or are forced to live without their parents, I suggest you read this book. This gives you perspective on their behavior/emotions and while you read it you pray with all your heart that you would be someone who makes a difference in this child's life.
    "...even at age seven I could see that kids preferred poverty if they were loved, rags if they were cared for, and homelessness if someone wanted them. We were willing to suffer much if w could only be part of our own families."


20. Unbroken: A WWII Story of Survival, Resilience & Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand
    One word: FASCINATING!!! Seriously. Seriously, fascinating.


21. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream, David Platt
    I read a similar book last year called the HOLE IN OUR GOSPEL. It is a reminder not miss what is radical about our faith and replace it with what is comfortable. To never settle for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.
    It's a challenge to live a life of significance! Sign me up!!


22. The Magician's Nephew, C.S. Lewis
    In all honesty, I'd forgotten the significance of the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. It was fun to read about how Narnia and the magical wardrobe came to be. I love that from the beginning Aslan says: "Do not be cast down. Evil will come of that evil, but it is still a long way off, and I will see to it that the worst falls upon myself."

Books of 2010

This year I read fewer books because I am a SLOW reader and I would fall asleep as soon as I started reading. Can you blame a girl?

• Ninteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult Jodi's books always leave you wondering what would I do if I were in their position. This one hit a bit close to home and messed with me a bit. The topic: Bullying. I could write another post about my elementary school life experiences, but I don't want to - so I won't. :o)
• The Prophet, Khalil Gabran - I found it interesting that some people have put the Bible aside and taken this up as their spiritual guide. Be warned that this prophet isn't JESUS.
• The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns - This is my FAVORITE book of the year! While it all may be something you may have already heard, it forces you to look at how you live and how it affects those around you.
• Little Bee, Chris Cleave - This book left me with a lot of unanswered questions regarding immigration....Oh, the ever controversial topic!
• Same Kind of Different As Me, Ron Hall & Denver Moore - Ron and Denver have a really sweet friendship. I like how Ron was honest regarding his feelings toward "christian" stuff. A lot of times I feel the same way - but the funny thing is something great happens when you are obedient to what God's asked of you.
• Double Take, Kevin Michael Connolly - Imagine you were legless and you were traveling the world on a skateboard??
• The Recipe Club, Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel - If honesty is the best policy, I found this book to be a bit lame and predictable.
• Sh*t My Dad Says, Justin Halpern - Laughing out loud doesn't often happen when I'm reading, but I sure did laugh out loud with this one. Justin's dad is a serious ham and a half. (If the word sh*t or F*ck bother you then don't bother picking this book up.)
• The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho - Another one of those philosophical books...very simple. It's really REALLY popular and I'm wondering if I'm missing something. Did I miss the train everyone else is on?
• Morning Glory, LaVyrie Spencre - Okay, so they made a chick flick out of this book and I completely missed it while it was on the big screen. I tried renting it but can't find it anywhere so I picked up the book and imagined the movie while I read the book. It was cute and what you'd expect from a chick book.

BBC Book List - Everyone Who is Cool is READING!

• Bold those books you've read in their entirety.
• Italicize the ones you started but didn't finish or read only an excerpt.
• Underline the ones currently in your read pile (you've bought then and plan to read them 'one day')

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (1 of 7)
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (I read East of Eden instead)
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zifon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Inferno - Dante
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factoy - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

18 of 100. I love reading, but this list makes it seem like I'm an amateur. Anyway - I'm curious what you've read.

An Excerpt

...from a book I'm reading.

"It is worth considering, as we look at repentance and restoration, that although Jesus knew Judas would betray him, Peter would deny him, and the others would desert him, he still washed their feet (John 13:3-5), then shared the bread and wine with them - bread that represented his body and wine that represented his blood. Despite knowing what they would do, he said to them, "I do not call you servants any longer...but I have called you friends" (John 15:15). He did that for all of them, including Judas. Jesus looked past their betrayal, their sins, and their failures and called them his friends. We take comfort in the knowledge that he will do that for us as well."

-Adam Hamilton, 24 Hours That Changed the World, 1. The Last Supper, p. 23

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

He did this for you. He did it for me. And to think...that He...gave His life knowing full well we'd be unfaithful friends - WHOA! He loves us SO much that He gave His life so that our sins would be forgiven.

It goes against the grain. I'll only be your friend if you're nice to me. And if you laugh at my jokes. If you let me know how cool I am and what kinds of things you like about me. I'll only be your friend if you look like me and if you wear similar clothes as me. I'll only be your friend if your aren't embarrassing and if you never offend me. And if you do all of this for me, I'll do the same for you. Because, really, it's all about me...and in your case you! Right? We aren't in the habit of befriending people who are going to betray us.

Not Jesus. He knew....He knew betrayal was coming from ME! But He still called me His friend.

It is truly astounding!

And just so you know - He really is the greatest friend you could ever have. Not only did He give His life, but Jesus considered you the joy that got him through it (Hebrews 12) - because He did it specifically for YOU.

I've been on a journey with Him since a young age and it's been a good one. I could go on forever about Jesus, but really you should get to know Him.

Sacrifice

Since I started my job in February, I haven't read a book in its entirety and I'm craving a GOOD page turner and I can't seem to either a) find the right book or b) stay awake long enough to peak any sort of interest. I hope to make up for the lack of reading for fun in the summer.

And I hope that one year in, I'm in a groove to be able to read for fun all the time...even during the school year. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE reading? I do. A LOT! And I MISS it!

If you have any book suggestions leave a comment.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Imogene had the baby doll but she wasn't carrying it in the way she was supposed to, cradled in her arms. She had it slung up over her shoulder, and before she put it in the manger she thumped it twice on the back.
I heard Alice gasp and she poked me. "I don't think it's very nice to burp the baby Jesus," she whispered, "as if he had colic." Then she poked me again. "Do you supposed he could have had colic?"
I said, "I don't know why not," and I didn't. He could have had colic, or been fussy, or hungry like any other baby. After all, that was the whole point of Jesus - the he didn't come down on a cloud like something out of "Amazing Comics," but that he was born and lived...a real person.

-Barbara Robinson
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Books of 2009

Since one of my goals for the year was to read more, I want to share with you the books I read this year. It's really crazy to think that there are about eight days left to the year. If I get another book read in that time it would be a miracle.

So...without further ado, here is the list of books I read this year.

1. Let Me Be A Woman, Elisabeth Elliot
2. Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
3. One Day, All Children...: The Unlikely Triumph of Teach for America & What I learned Along the Way, Wendy Kopp*
4. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Ishmael Beah*
5. The Butterfly Jar, Poems by Jeff Moss*
6. Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity, Charles R. Swindoll
7. Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sophie Kinsella
8. My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult
9. Big Russ & Me, Tim Russert*
10. The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning*
11. A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry*
12. Crazy Love, Francis Chan*
13. Joseph: A Man of Integrity & Forgiveness, Charles R. Swindoll*
14. I Would Die For You, Brent & Deanna Higgins
15. The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffegger
16. Like Water For Chocolate, Laura Esquivel*
17. The Book of Romance, Tommy Nelson
18. Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen*
    
19. Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling
20. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara Robinson*

I've put a star by the ones I think are my favorite! (And just because it doesn't have a star doesn't mean I didn't like it...it just means it wasn't a FAVORITE.)

Of the christian books, Joseph: A Man of Integrity & Forgiveness by Charles R. Swindoll is my favorite. I couldn't help but fall in LOVE with the man of God from ages past!

And for non-christian reads, I'd have to say that I really and truly enjoyed Like Water for Chocolate. Couldn't put that one down at all. There is something about Spanish Literature that leaves me wanting more!!

So, there you have it. I accomplished that goal. Gold star for me! :o)

Big Russ & Me

So, as I've mentioned many times before, I LOVE to read! As a result, I tend to have more books than I can read at a time. I bought the book Big Russ & Me by Tim Russert LAST YEAR and I'm just NOW coming around to reading it.

GO PICK UP A COPY!

It's an easy read. It's nostalgic. It makes you want to call your dad and tell him you love him! And it also makes you want to write down every possible memory that you have with your dad, so that a hundred years from now someone will remember the good times you spent with him!

For me - it reminded me of the road trips we took with my dad to San Antonio or San Jacinto, how my dad would put me on his shoulders as a little girl and jump rope, how my dad made me get back on a bike after having a horrible fall and said, "We're not quitters just because we skin our knees," how we finally told him to stop cooking eggs for us because we thought they were disgusting (ha ha ha, at least he tried). It reminded me of the time when my dad was teaching me to swim and the silly looking goggles he bought for me and how he went to every single orchestra concert I had growing up and how he tears up any time he's overwhelmingly proud of me or my brothers.

It makes me sad to think of the times I was embarrassed by him because I love him! (I'm crying now. ha ha!) What a great dad I have! He's truly amazing!

I'm not quite finished reading this book, but I will be in the next couple evenings when I get a chance to read....but I couldn't help myself - I YouTubed "tim russert" and found this video that I thought would be perfect to share with you!




p.s. My dad's birthday is this Thursday and I have an AWESOME surprise planned for him on Saturday. I will make sure to have my camera and tell you all about it. I seriously CAN'T WAIT! It's going to be great!

Incomplete List

Remember THIS list? The list of books?


Yeah. So I accidentally left one off. Perhaps it was to give it a spot light.

Just Courage, Gary Haugen


Let Gary tell you about his book. Watch this video:

Back in Time

Have you guys ever done a time capsule? My family (Valdez-Rogriguez clan) put one together 10 years ago. It was on Thanksgiving that we were supposed to open it. But of course, every time we throw a party we forget that we even have it. So, there's a couple of us who are DYING to see what's in it! I was fifteen - a bit nerdy and reserved...with a little silly in the mix. I'm really curious to see what I wrote or put in that thing. Oooooh I can't wait.

Speaking of back in time, a while ago I spent a weekend organizing my bookshelf by genre and author (okay so I'm still a little nerdy) and I found this little book that I made when I was in first grade (or was it second grade). Regardless of what grade it was, I remember feeling disappointed that I didn't have enough time to finish it, but also being so impressed by my work. It's super cute and I still think it's pretty genius. (ha ha ha! I'll take a humility pill in a second.)

Our teacher showed us this book and then put us to work. I made little lady bug prints all over my page and then in the middle wrote a little poem that goes like this:

I can hug my mother

I can hug my dad

but I can't hug a

(thumbprint art here)

ladybug.

Okay, laugh if you want, but I think I'm going to get it framed I've decided.

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

pas·sive [pas-iv]
–adjective
1. not reacting visibly to something that might be expected to produce manifestations of an emotion or feeling.
2. not participating readily or actively; inactive: a passive member of a committee.
3. not involving visible reaction or active participation: to play a passive role.

*****************

I've noticed that there is a lot of advice on how to be a good parent, how to have a good relationship, how to be a good friend, etc. More than that though, I've noticed that specific advice often transcends what it addresses - it is universal. I read this last fall and it has stuck with me. Sometimes it may seem like common sense. But when this sort of advice resonates in your being, it is more than common sense - it is TRUTH!

No enemy is more subtle than passivity. When parents are passive,
they may eventually discipline, but by then the delayed reaction is often
carried out in anger. Passivity waits and waits until finally, when it can wait
no longer, it comes down with both feet! When that happens, children are not
disciplined, they are brutalized. Passivity not only blinds us to
the here and now, it makes us inconsistent.
by Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives,
italics added by Mimi Marquez

I think at one time or another we have all encountered passivity and the dreaded "explosion." Wow, how passivity doesn't do us any good!! It causes more damage than we are willing to admit.

Poetry & Sunny Days

That combination makes for a skip to my lou disposition! This weekend was absolutely pleasant. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I bought two poetry books this weekend. I don't think I'll ever have enough poetry. Wanna see??I really enjoy the illustrations that accompany the poems in this anthology. If you hang out with any kids I strongly recommend this book. It's got GREAT stuff - from silly to GO GET 'em TIGER!

WHOA NELLY! This is good. The english translation does it NO JUSTICE! Spanish is so beautiful. It's times like these when I wish EVERYONE could understand it!

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

chry·san·the·mum [kri-san-thuh-muhm] –noun
1. any of several composite plants of the genus Chrysanthemum, as C. leucanthemum, the oxeye daisy, having white ray flowers with a yellow center.
2. any cultivated variety of the plant C. morifolium, native to China, and of other species of Chrysanthemum, notable for the diversity of color and size of their autumnal flowers.
3. the flower of any such plant.

Okay, so it's an autumnal flower! Perhaps it would have been better to post this around October or November. HOWEVER, Chrysanthemum also happens to be on of my favorite children's books. When you read it you have to do the voices and when you read Chrysanthemum you HAVE to read it like this: Chrys-AAAAN-themum!