January Monthly Wrap Up!

Hey everybody! I'm going to go through everything that I had done for January which includes how many challenges I was able to complete to how many books I've read during this month!

January Challenges Wrap Up:

2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge:

Completed: 3

1. Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex: Completed: 1/24/2015

2. Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges: Completed: 1/24/2015

3. The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman: Completed: 1/23/2015

Bookish Bingo: 2015 New Year Edition

Completed: 2

1. White Cover:  Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis: Completed: 1/15/2015

2. Graphic Novel: Fatale: The Devil's Business Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker: Completed: 1/17/2015

2015 Full House Reading Challenge

Completed: 2

1. Library Book: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt: Completed: 1/16/2015

2. First in a series: Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis: Completed: 1/15/2015

2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge

Completed: 1

 S - Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis: Completed: 1/15/2015

2015 I Love Picture Books

Completed: 5

1. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt: Completed: 1/16/2015
2. Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex: Completed: 1/24/2015
3. Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges: Completed: 1/24/2015
4. The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman: Completed: 1/23/2015
5. Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth: Completed: 1/30/2015

 2015 Mad Reviewer Reading Challenge

Completed: 1

1. Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis: Completed: 1/15/2015

2015 Comic Book Bingo

Completed: 1

1. Image Published Comic: Fatale: The Devil's Business Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker: Completed: 1/17/2015

[BOOK REVIEW] Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth

Title:  Old Black Fly

Author:  Jim Aylesworth

Artist:  Stephen Gammell

Genre: Insects / Humor / Poetry / Family

Year Published:1992

Year Read:  2015

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Source:  Library

Content Warning:  Ages 3+ (Some Bizarre Imagery)

Buy on:  Amazon  //  Book Depository 

So, this review will be special since the majority of this book is told through rhyming.  So I will give out my thoughts on this book in a simple rhyming scheme!

Old Black Fly’s been buzzing around,

Buzzing around, buzzing around.

Old Black Fly’s been buzzing around,

And he’s had a very busy bad day.

He buzzed through the pie crust and bothered the baby,

He also bothered the dog and got in the honey,

He bothered the older sister and he bothered the cat,

Is he going to get it, well imagine that!

I really enjoyed this picture book,

It is definitely worth taking a look.

Jim Aylesworth’s writing is witty and fun,

You will learn the alphabet once you are done.

The story is told through the alphabet,

Of the fly’s escapades, you can bet!

Imagine being bothered by a pesky fly,

Why I could just really up and die!

Stephen Gammell’s artwork is simply creative and messy,

The images of the fly flying through everything, oh bless me!

I loved the messy streak that the fly leaves behind,

In his chaotic rampage through the house that puts you in a bind!

The characters look so crazy, it is insane!

The colorings of the artwork will flow in your brain!

So go and pick up “Old Black Fly,”

It is truly fantastic, I will not lie!

If you are a fan of the weird and crazy,

Then this book is right up your alley!

Recommended for children ages three and up,

This book is harmless as a little pup!

 * 1993 Minnesota Book Award for Younger Children

Top Ten Tuesday #11: Top 10 Books I would use for My Book Club

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

So today’s Top Ten Tuesday theme is my top 10 Books I would use for my (imaginary) book club!

So, here's my top 10 Books I would use for my book club!

1. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

This would be a great book to discuss about alternative realities and how they would affect us and anyone in the book club who is a huge fan of Neil Gaiman will definitely take the opportunity to discuss this book with other Neil Gaiman fans!

2. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

This is a great book to discuss about fairy tale retellings and how we can compare and contrast this story from the original Cinderella story!

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

This would be a great book to discuss about different realities and to also discuss about mythology and how they relate to the characters in this book!

4. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

This book is great in discussing about the consequences of acting without thinking and about the ups and downs of being in a relationship with someone you care about.  Also, Laini Taylor fans will definitely jump at the opportunity to talk about this book with other fans of Laini Taylor's works!

5. Easy by Tammara Webber

This would be a great book to talk about how to defend yourself against a near rape and to also discuss about how people can get help if they find themselves in a position that they find it hard to get out of.

6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This would be a fantastic book to talk about cancer and how it affects the person who has it and this book can also be good to use to talk about how you can enjoy your life the best you can, even if things get tough for you.

7. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

This would be a great book to talk about the importance of true friendship and also if you are a huge fan of Melina Marchetta's works, this would definitely be one book that can be enjoyed by the whole book club!

8. Abarat by Clive Barker

This would be a fantastic book to talk about if I want to show other members of my book club books that really uses the fantasy element to help make the story interesting!

9. Abarat: Days of Magic Nights of War by Clive Barker

Anyone who love reading books that has surreal illustrations and dark fantasy elements, this is definitely one book that I would highly use in my book club!

10. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

For anyone who is a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's works and who wants to read books that manage to show dark fantasy very well, I would definitely recommend them this book!



So, what books do you want to use in your book club? Please feel free to comment below!



Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2015