Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com
AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader
Dear Reader,
I've been visiting my granddaughter and attending her high school graduation and author Dianne Ochiltree has graciously offered to fill-in for me today. We're lucky to have her visit the book clubs.
Dianne is a nationally recognized author of books for the very young. Her picture book, Molly By Golly! The Legend of Molly Williams, America's First Female Firefighter received the Florida Book Awards Bronze Medal in the Children's Literature category in 2012 and has been placed on the Bank Street College Best Books of 2013 list. There's a special giveaway at the end of her column. Don't miss it. My grandchildren love her books.
Take it away Dianne Ochiltree...
Okay, I'll admit it: even though I've been a grownup for a long time now, I still LOVE eating a drippy, syrupy-sweet popsicle when temperatures climb to 'fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk' hot. Nothing is better than this icy treat at beating the heat!
But, the best thing about popping a cherry-red popsicle into my mouth just might be the taste of summers, long ago, which always come to mind as I savor its flavor. These memories are delicious, too.
Summertime in my neighborhood was slow and easy, in ways that kids likely don't get to enjoy.
We picked dandelions in the early morning, bringing them to our mothers for jelly jar bouquets---and in this pre-lawn care-specialist era, there were plenty of dandelions sprouting in neighborhood yards--or sat on the porch stoop, braiding the 'bendy' stalks together in chains to wear as bracelets or necklaces.
Because no one had home air conditioning in those days, we kids were encouraged to spend our day outdoors. Mothers kept an eye on us from kitchen windows, garden plots and laundry clotheslines, as we explored the wonderful world in our fenced-in back yard.
The sand box became a cowboy ranch thanks to a container of plastic figures, a few cardboard boxes, and a bit of imagination. A kiddie pool became a vast ocean filled with fantastic sea creatures making a guest appearance from their usual bathtub habitat. We persuaded the family dog and cat to sit inside our laundry basket 'zoo', sitting in as lion and tiger.
Just after Memorial Day, Dad pitched a pup tent right next to our backyard swings. We'd camp out with crayons and coloring books and cookies we'd swiped from the kitchen when we thought no one was looking. We packed a picnic of lemonade and PB n' J sandwiches to tuck into inside our canvas fortress, pretending we were jungle explorers on lunch break. The tent was sometimes a castle or pirate ship or fancy tearoom, too.
On a hot summer afternoon, what could be better than plopping down in cool grass under the shade of a broad-leafed tree with a well-loved book in hand?
Which brings us back to where we started: the only thing better, of course, would be sharing popsicles with a friend, letting the juice run down our chins, and thinking what a fine time summertime is!
Dianne is so excited about the arrival of summertime that she's giving away autographed copies of her new not-just-for-bedtime book, "It's a Firefly Night," to three lucky DearReader book club members. To enter the free book giveaway, simply email: [email protected] with "Summertime Memory" typed in the subject line.
Dianne would love to read about YOUR favorite childhood summertime memory if you would like to share it with her, but it is not required for entry in the giveaway. Good luck to all!
I will be back tomorrow.
* Congratulations to the winners of Fear Has a Name by Guest Columnist Creston Mapes: Dorie Furman, Linda Hitchcock, Elaine Ruggiero, Kristina Kammerer, Susan Snodgrass, Jannee Muhrline, Mary Neville, Sharon Berger, Janice Stephenson and Anne Bramble.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
The vacationing Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
AUTHORBUZZ: TO SEDUCE AND DEFEND (Fiction) by Deborah Camp
A young woman starting a new life in Guthrie, I.T. becomes caught in a web of deceit woven by her late husband. Determined to right the wrongs done to her, she is joined in her fight by a handsome lawyer who also manages to mend her broken heart.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on TO SEDUCE AND DEFEND to read more and to email author Deborah Camp, you'll get a reply.
KIDSBUZZ: Meet new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus enter to win a free copy of THE MUSEUM by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter Reynolds; PARISIEN-CHIEN: Adventures of an Ex-Pat Dog, written and illustrated by Jackie Mancuso; and KEEPER OF REIGN, BOOK I by Emma Right. Win free copies, say hello to the authors, and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz
Comments