Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Books-A-Plenty (I Hope)


12/31/11 Update — In case you hadn't already guessed, we did not win again this year. I still think this is a great contest and will probably participate again next year. Congratulations to winner Jennifer Miller of Where the Best Books Are. I'm green with envy, but happy to have found this great blog about children's books. You should check it out.

There are two kinds of people in the world — those who write blog posts that could win big prizes, and those who comment on blog posts and could also win big prizes.

This holiday season, I'm teaming up again with Chronicle Books for their 2nd Annual Happy Haul-idays Giveaway. I could win, you could win, and a charity of my choice could win.

That's win-win-win.

Win #1
First I get to make a wish list of Chronicle Books up to $500 dollars in value. I've sorted my list (sort of):

Animal and/or Picture Books
Amazing Animals: Parrots $5.99
Creepy Creatures: Scorpions $4.99
Creature — by Andrew Zuckerman $60.00
Creature ABC — by Andrew Zuckerman $19.99
Dog is a Dog — by Stephan Shaskan $14.99
Duck! Rabbit! – by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld $16.99
Happy Hamster — by Mathijs van der Paauw $9.95
The Lonesome Puppy — by Yoshitomo Nara $17.99
Press Here — by Hervè Tullet $14.99
Walk the Dog — A Parade of Pooches from A-Z by Bob Barner $9.99
What Puppies Do Best — by Laura Numeroff $14.99

Word and/or Writing Books
Creative, Inc. — The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho $16.95
L is for Lollygag — Quirky Words for the Clever Tongue $12.99
No Plot? No Problem! A Low-stress, High-velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days — by Chris Baty $14.95
Show and Tell — Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration by Dilys Evans $24.99
You're a Genius All the Time — Belief and Technique for Modern Prose by Jack Kerouac $12.95
You Know You're a Writer When … — by Adair Lara $9.95
The Writer's Toolbox — Creative Games and Exercises for Inspiring the "Write" Side of Your Brain by Jamie Cat Callan $24.95
Writer's Workshop in a Book — The Squaw Valley Community of Writers on the Art of Fiction — edited by Alan Cheuse and Lisa Alvarez $14.95
A Zeal of Zebras — An Alphabet of Collective Nouns by Woop $17.99

Fiction and One Nonfiction
The Doorbells of Florence: Fictional Stories and Photographs — by Andrew Losowsky $18.95
How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend — by Gary Ghislain $16.99
Milk & Cookies — 89 Heirloom Recipes from Milk & Cookies Bakery $24.95
Murder al Fresco — A Sunny McCoskey Napa Valley Mystery by Nadia Gordon $12.95
This is My Best —Great Writers Share Their Favorite Works edited by Kathy Kiernan and Retha Powers $16.95

Not Books
Creature Floor Puzzles — by Andrew Zuckerman $24.95
Eric Carle Decorative Prints — by Eric Carle $24.95
See the World With Chronicle Books Tote Bag $2.99
Typewriter Eco-Journal $10.95

Win #2
Like my list? Leave a comment, because if I win, you could win all these books too. (Make it a good one, because I get to pick the winning commenter.)

Win #3
If my blog post is chosen the winner, the Chronicle Books will also donate $500 worth of books to the charity of my choice. I choose The Mighty Twig, which was founded during city budget cuts by the volunteers of the Evanston (Illinois) Public Library Friends. Here's what they do:

"What is The Mighty Twig? Smaller than a branch, (but mighty) the Twig provides children and adults with books, internet, computers, storytime and a community space. A small but wonderful library collection circulates in a new way, on the honor system: No cards, no fines, no fees, no fooling! Where else does The Twig take books? We provide donated books to community centers, coffee shops, and schools throughout Evanston. "

If you don't like my list, write your own blog post with your own list or check out other bloggers' lists (find out how here.) The contest ends 12/2/11. Be sure to leave info in your comment on how I can contact you when and if we win. Good luck.

57 comments:

Gretta said...

Thanks for the chance to win! I love your selection of books...especially the children's books!

bamagv at aol dot com

Jenniffer said...

I did compile my own list on my blog, but why not expand my chances by commenting on yours? I hope we both win!!

MB said...

I love, love, love Chronicle Books! I want to work for Chronicle Books as a new talent scout. I'm not kidding. I've also been thinking about 2kop ever since I was quoted on it earlier this week. The one I have been mulling over is...there are two kinds of people: those who believe in signs and see the connections between things and look for the meanings therein and those you don't. Guess which kind I am?

Susan Bearman said...

Gretta, thanks for stopping by. I love the children's books, too. My husband owns a pet store and that's why I chose all those animal books. I thought they might make fun giveaways on his blog.

Jenniffer, I look forward to checking out your list. Hope they post a list of participants, too.

MB, I love Chronicle Books, too, and kept thinking as I was writing this post how much fun it would be to work for them. Have you checked out their blog?

April Yedinak said...

I love your selection of books and your charity certainly sounds deserving.
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com

SSheilah said...

Seeing your picks is 2KoWinning: I find new favorites, and learn more about a favorite author. Best wishes on the contest!

SSheilah said...

Forgot to include the contact info: ssheilah(at)yahoo(dot)com

Susan Bearman said...

ape2016 — thanks for stopping. I'm glad you enjoyed the list. The Mighty Twig has been a big grass roots effort, and I think this would be a big boon to them.

SSheilah — Hi. Thanks for stopping. It's nice to hear from you again. I like 2KoWinning. Best wishes to you, too.

Mandroid said...

I'd love to see the look on my little nephew's face if I walked into his house with an armful of those books. He'd be so happy!

That also sounds like a lovely charity. We can always use more libraries.

Leslie
workingforthemandroid at gmail dot com

Susan Bearman said...

Hi, Leslie. I hope for your nephew's sake that we win!

Sara said...

After seeing how many books we had in common on our lists, I had to comment. This way, even I don't win, I have a chance to Win! Thanks and good luck.

Kelly Robinson said...

I made my own list at Book Dirt, but I'd be happy to win your list and share it with my friends and family.

Susan Bearman said...

Sara — great minds think alike. Good luck. I'm going to check out your list.

Kelly — thanks for commenting. I loved your list, even though we didn't have a single book in common.

Arlee Bird said...

You really got a lot of mileage out of your list--it's like a miniature library. I'm going to put up my list on my Tossing It Out site on 11/23. Good luck to you.


Lee
Ann Carbine Best visits Wrote By Rote on Saturday 11/12/11

Susan Bearman said...

And to your, Arlee. I'll try to remember to check in on the 23rd.

nfmgirl said...

Awesome selection! Good luck!

Catie said...

The Mighty Twig sounds like a very worthy charity! Good luck!

Susan Bearman said...

Thanks, nfmgirl. Good luck to all of us.

Catie, it really is a great place.

jcamp2020 said...

Love the wimsy in the name The Mighty Twig. Someone was thinking! Isn't it wonderful when a community finds a way to make things better without the politics involved. Just DO IT! Make it available and everyone is a winner. My kudos to all involved.

good luck to all :)

Susan Bearman said...

jcamp — I like the play on words, too. Every time I walk by the Twig, it's really hopping.

janiera said...

This is a great contest, i love all the great writing books on your list!
Here is my Happy Haulidays

Anonymous said...

Great list. I have to check out some of the children's books you listed. No matter how much time I have spent on their website, everyone's lists have books i never saw before and therefore missed my list.

Good Luck

Katie said...

I totally missed Duck! Rabbit! when I was going through the kids books and making my list.
I would love to win your list if I can't win my own. Good Luck!
Katie
aclassofherown(at)gmail(dot)com

Susan Bearman said...

Janiera — it is a great contest. So much fun to think of winning all these books.

Green4u — Chronicle's list is so extensive and interesting. I find something new on each contest list I see.

Katie — Duck! Rabbit! Really fun. I'd love to win your list, too.

Anonymous said...

Your list is pretty awesome! I wouldn't mind winning yours if I don't get mine. mclicious.write@gmail.com

Amanda K Jaros said...

Wow- so many books so little time! Thanks for posting this, and sharing the news of this amazing contest. I hope you and the Twig win big this year:)

Kelly @ Books and Beauti said...

I'm really loving your list!! So many books! I would love to win along with you! :)

Rhianna said...

:D Your writing book choices are making me drool. *wipes the screen*

What a cool charity too. That's people doing something awesome for their community at its finest. Bravo!

Here's wishing you and The Mighty Twig good luck this hauliday season!

-- Rhianna

Linda Gartz said...

Ooh, Goody-- I love your contests! And what great books! I'm past the kids' books phase (at one time had thousands. I've given most away, but have saved those very special ones for my kids' kids -- if, whenever!
Count me in. Thanks.

The Mighty Twig said...

What a great list of books. The Twig really wants them!!!

Thank you so much for your support of The Mighty Twig. It is thriving because of the creative efforts of people like you. Commenters -- if you're in the Evanston area, please come check us out at 900 Chicago Ave (Chicago & Main.)

LKeenan said...

Love the Mighty Twig and am honored you've chosen us to share in the book bonanza. Your selections look great, I'm envious of the indulgence of perusing and selecting a wish-list of books. Blog on Mighty blogger! The Twig peeps know where to find me.

Rina C. said...

The Mighty Twig is a gift to our town- we appreciate the beautiful, bright space, and the friendliness of the volunteers. It is a symbol of what is possible, when a community makes libraries a priority. Despite the massive budget cuts that did away with our South Branch Library , the Mighty Twig rose to the occasion! Thank you for including it in your charity list! It is indeed a worthwhile cause.

TRAN! (www.thinktran.com) said...

Great list! Good luck!

Jennifer Miller said...

Super selection and such a great giveaway! I love that it supports our charities!!!

Anonymous said...

Books, yeah!!!

Victoria said...

Well, we didn't win last year, so I guess this is our year. :)

Craftinomicon said...

Great list! It's so good they are choosing to also donate $500 in books to a charity this year, it seems so many places really need it! Good luck to us both!

craftinomicon@gmail.com

Stacey Brucale said...

Great book choices! Good luck!

Check out my list here

xxsquigglesxx(At)Gmail(dot)com

Susan Bearman said...

mclicious — I'll be sure to check out your list. Good luck to us both.

Amanda — Thanks for your comment. The Twig and I hope we win, too.

Kelly — I tried to "spend" every penny of the $500 allotted. So much fun.

Rhianna — They are drool-worthy choices, if I do say so myself.

Linda — thanks, as always, for your support. I love this contest. If you win, there are lots of great places (like the Mighty Twig) to donate those children's books from my list that you don't need.

The Mighty Twig — thanks for sharing the post on your Facebook Page. I really hope we win.

LKeenean — It was true luxury to spend so much time picking my list. I hope the Mighty Twig wins right along with me.

Rina C. — I hope I win so The Might Twig wins, too.

TRAN! — Thanks. Good luck to you, too.

Jennifer — Good luck. I'll check out your list.

Anonymous — I agree, Yay Books. But if you want a chance to win, you have to leave me some info on how to contact you.

Victoria — I hope this is our year.

craftinomicon — I'm so excited that one worthy charity will be winning $500 worth of great books just because bloggers like us are participating in this contest.

xxxsqugglesxx — love your animal book choices. Thanks for commenting.

h said...

Good luck, everyone! I entered as well, feel free to comment on my post if you'd like:
http://ohmahdeehness.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/book-review-ivy-bean/

Melinda said...

Great list! Good luck!

Vasilly said...

Have you read Duck! Rabbit! yet? It's a great book. You're right, we do have a few books in common. Good luck!

Unknown said...

Love the way you organized your list! :)

Feel free to comment back on my post:
the bookish mama

Anonymous said...

great selection. mine is here: http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/happy-haulidays-get-books-for-free/
Emma

Marian said...

I've been wanting to read the NaNoWriMo book for a while! Good luck to you!

Susan Bearman said...

hsw — thanks so much. Good luck to you, too.

Melinda — Thanks. I loved your crafty list, too.

Vasilly — Yes! I love Duck! Rabbit!

Jasmine Marie — I wish I had added book covers like you did. Next year.

wordsandpeace — you had a great selection, too.

Marian — last year's NaNo or this years? Thanks for commenting. I liked your list.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

This is my best - I love that title. And, I love your list.

Arlee Bird said...

I especially like all the writing books. They'd make a great addition to my collection of books that I intend to read someday.

find my list at:
Tossing It Out
Lee

Lucy Mercer said...

I love the decorative prints by Eric Carle, too. Fingers crossed for you!

Jen said...

Interesting list. I dabble in writing, so I would love to win those books too. Good luck!

Gwen@ChewDigestBooks.com said...

One of the coolest things about this contest is not just the winning, it is cruising around, checking out all of the other participants and finding blogs that you never would have come across otherwise. HI, nice to meet you!

Can I say that I am jealous that you are a "reluctant pet store owner"? I get that it is probably hard work, but wow.

Good luck and see you soon!

Unknown said...

Great list! We picked some of the same ones - love that you broke them into categories - great idea. I'm a freelance writer too so maybe we can exchange tips someday lol

Kira said...

Your list was way more organized than mine. Oh well. Good luck to you and your charity.

ann said...

A great selection of books especially for the kids

amhengst at verizon dot net

Vintage Love & Photographs said...

How awesome would it be to win this?!

lace said...

I thought Show and Tell looked like a wonderful book!

This Confetti Life said...

So many good choices! Good luck to you, and if you win, good luck to me!