Book Challenge-September

This is my first book post! Wohoo! I have challenged myself to work my way through my book collection and catalog each book. In an attempt to create my own Library. I have been collecting books since I started teaching back in the 90’s. I have a picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, and a variety of adult fiction and non-fiction. I love all books! I have no idea what all I have after 20+ years of collecting. In a way I guess I want to become more curator than collector.

I wasn’t sure where to start so I decided to start small. Each month I am going to choose one picture book, one chapter or middle grade book and one YA or adult book. As I read I am going to take notes and create a spreadsheet for my library, as well as blog about what I am reading and how it is going. In the end I hope to have a complete database and a better knowledge of my collection.

For September I have chosen:

1. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is my choice for picture book read. This was a book I always read to my class at the beginning of the school year. I look forward to the re-read and the wonderful memories I anticipate it conjuring up.
2. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by JM Barrie is my choice for chapter/middle grade book. I am over the moon excited to read this book. I recently took my first trip to London and spent many hours visiting the beautiful gardens and pouring over books in the fantastic independent bookshops of London. In one shop I found an antique copy of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, a second edition printed sometime in the 1920’s. It was such a beautiful treasure. The illustrations were exquisite and the feel of the book in my hands made me smile. I went to the store three times before I bit the bullet and got it for my book collection. I made a second trip with my treasure to Kensington Gardens to visit the Peter Pan statue and imagine Barrie sitting in the park dreaming up this incredible story. GOOSEBUMPS!
3. Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly is my choice for YA/Adult book. This one has been on my TBR list for a while. I absolutely love historical fiction, especially from this time period.

I am getting a little bit of a late start. It is already the second week in September but I am going to give it my best shot! Got to go read!

Illustration from Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.

Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens