December 2008 Book Give Away

I was so happy to send books out to two readers last month.  Just think how happy we would all have been if I had gotten the right box of books to the right person!!!!  Yep, between the post office lady and myself, we managed to send Nagano’s books to Hyogo, and vice versa!  Thanks to the kindness of both readers, they read each other’s books and will soon be sending them on to each other!

I will try to do better this time around!  I will be sending these books out the first of January, but wanted to give you a chance to look at the list before I took off for Christmas vacation.

Three Requirements:

1. You love books
2. You live in Japan
3. You don’t mind paying COD charges.  (I found you can get quite a few books in a box for 800-900 yen COD.)

Leave a comment in the Comments, and send me an e-mail at kims.bookshelf@yahoo.com with your snail mail address. 

Click the links – (Amazon.com) to look at the books.

Here are December’s books:

1. One-Way to Ansonia (PB) ISBN 0-425-08880-4 GONE
2. Praying God’s Will for my Marriage (PB) ISBN 0-8407-9223-9
3. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (PB) ISBN 4-89684-515-3
4. An American Childhood (PB) ISBN 0-06-091518-8 GONE
5. Murder in Three Acts (PB) 0-425-09041-8
6. Surrender (PB) ISBN 0-8024-1280-7
7. Pollyanna (PB) ISBN 978-1-85326-145-9 GONE
8. The Three Musketeers (PB) ISBN 0-14-044025-9
9. Shame and Grace(HB) ISBN 0-06-067521-7
10. American Tall Tales(HB)  Old library copy (1952) GONE

The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

When I got married, seven years ago, I read a lot of books on marriage.  Some were really good.  As this is our anniversary month, I would like to introduce some of them to you.  I personally think these books are good to read before marriage too.  Even if “Mr./Mrs. Right” is no where in sight yet.

I listen to Dr. Laura on the military radio station Sunday evenings.  She is quite sharp in replying to callers, so my soft heart only allows me to listen to a little of the show.  However, even in that short time, I learn something.

Dr. Laura has very clear standards for life.  She holds on to these standards very tightly.  And her standards make real sense.  In a world where grey is so much more prevelant that black or white, it is refreshing to listen to someone who knows what she believes, and lives by it (at least I hope she does!)

I was introduced to this book through a Christian internet radio station, and was a little surprised to see it there.  But, I bought it, and I like it.  This book is a little unusual in that it SUPPORTS the husband.  So many books around say that the husband needs to get his act together and understand his wife.  He needs to learn her language.  He needs to change, etc.  Well, many of us wives may feel that way, but waiting around for our husbands to change may take a life-time of frustration and bitterness.  Instead, we can be the catylist for change in our marriage by learning our husband’s language, and learning to understand him.

Thus the title, The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands.

This book is easy to read, remember and apply!

November 2008 Book Give Away

It is getting COLD here.  Well, colder than before, anyway!  Jun still streaks around the house claiming she is “hot”, so it must not be too cold yet.  A two year old with hot flashes?

But, for those of us who feel the cold, a good book and a quilt can warm us right up!  Huh? 

Please check out this list of books for the November 2008 Book Give Away and see if any will warm you up. 

Three criteria only:

1. You live in Japan
2. You don’t mind paying shipping COD
3. You LOVE books!

Leave a comment in the Comments, and send me an e-mail at kims.bookshelf@yahoo.com with your snail mail address, and I will send the books to you by the end of November.  Happy reading!

Here are November’s 10 Books. 

Click the links – (Amazon.com) to look at them.

1. Reader’s Digest One DIsh Meals (HB) ISBN 0-89577-389-9 GONE
2. The Christmas Box Collection (PB) ISBN 0-671-02764-6 GONE
3. Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor (PB) ISBN 0-88368-387-3
4. Anne Frank:  The Diary of a Young GIrl (PB) ISBN 0-671-69009-4
5. Around the World in Eighty Days (PB) ISBN 978-0-14036-711-9
6. The Eternal Spring of Mr. Ito(HB-old library version) ISBN 0-02-73700-2 GONE
7. Mark Twain:  Four Complete Novels(HB) ISBN 978-0-517-09289-7 GONE
8. Tarzan of the Apes (PB) ISBN 978-1-59308-227-7
9. Fiddler on the Roof (PB) ISBN 0-87910-136-9
10. Quentins (PB) ISBN1-55278-308-1 GONE

October Book Give Away

Hi!  Be sure to check the list of books to see if any are calling your name.  I will post a new list on Nov. 1st

October Book Give Away

Meet The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

What can I say???  I love this book!  Growing up, we had the full version and I loved each page of it.  Especially the phrase “I think I can!”

I wanted to share the message of “I think I can!” with the Mamas and Kids in my Toddler’s class.  However, the full story would have been more than the Mamas would have been able to learn to read to their kiddos.  So, I searched and searched and searched. 

This particular book is a Beginning Reader’s version.  Not many words, same cute pictures, and “I think I can!” nicely repeated.  Of course, when I read it aloud, I multiply the times we shout “I think I can!” while bouncing up and down, to my heart’s content.

So, this is not the full story – but it is great for ESL.  Give it a try.  This particular book has another story about the Little Engine and a Hippo.  Hmmm.  We won’t use that one in class, though, if you have a child, they may enjoy it too.

Big Dog and Little Dog by Dav Pilkey

We have really been going to the dogs around here!  HA!  This is the current craze at our house.   We actually have The Complete Adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog!  It has five stories in it.  This book has so many things going for it!

• The stories are short and cute.
• The illustrations are colorful and easy to understand with no words.
• The text repeats A LOT!  This book will be great when Jun is reading by herself.
• The human illustrations are just perfect for the adults reading the book. 
• Each story ends with a cute twist.
• Big Dog and Little Dog are GREAT friends!
• Those two dogs remind me SO much of my daily life with a two year old!  Too funny!

If you haven’t read a Big Dog and Little Dog book, give it a try!

Go, Dog. Go! by P. D. Eastman

Jun’s fascination with dogs is growing, so I decided to raid my stash of English kids books and see if she was ready for my prized “Go, Dog. Go!”  I remember this book as a child.  I loved the trees.  Do you know what kind of trees they are????  The book is 64 pages long.  I didn’t think it would keep Jun’s attention for long, but … it did!  We had to read it again.  Not too many words on each page – thankfully!

Soon after our reading marathon I asked Jun if she liked corn flakes.  “I do not!” she replied, shoving them in her mouth.  If you have read Go, Dog! Go! you may remember the conversation repeated throughout:  “Do you like my hat?”  “I do not!”  Well, what do you know!?!

There was only one caveat for Jun.  Don’t tell anyone, BUT – the dogs don’t have any clothes on!  LOL!

Doggies by Sandra Boynton

When I first (or second) lived in Japan, I was walking down a very narrow pathway between houses to get to church.  I met a DOG!  A yapping dog.  I spoke to that dog in English.  That dog did not understand English, and was not impressed that I could speak it.  I thought, “Even the dogs understand more Japanese than I do!”

If I had only had this book, I would have done fine, I’m sure!

This was Jun’s first “dog” book.  This dog book teaches 10 different barking voices for dogs.  Ten.  Did you understand that?  10!  And Jun memorized quite a bit of the book, so we could have it even when we were out and about.  One of the dogs voices is even a whine.  Add those 10 voices to Japanese’s wan wan.  Well…  I think we can communicate with any dog we come into contact with.

As always, Sandra Boynton books are a big hit with us!  Bow wow wow!

October 2008 Book Give Away

My bookshelves are overcrowded.  Books fell on my head the other day.  I need to clean out the extras.  I have “sold” them to a used book company before for a pittance, or given them to the local library, but…I would rather give them to YOU if A:  You live in Japan,   B:  You want to read it/them,  C:  You don’t mind paying the shipping COD.

Why?  Because I have lived in Japan for a long long time and am always SOOO happy when someone gives me a book.  I’d like to pass the “happy” on.  You know, “Pay it Forward.”

The following 10 books will be available for adoption through the month of Oct.  Let me know in comments which book(s) you would like (so others will know if they are taken or not), and send me an e-mail with your snail mail address to kims.bookshelf@yahoo.com so I can get them to you ASAP!

If you prefer to exchange books, I love westerns, mysteries, kids books, nice clean easy to put down when Jun NEEDS something books.  We can “chat” about that by e-mail if you like!

Here are October’s 10 Books. 

Click the links – (Amazon.com) to look at them.

1. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood  (PB) ISBN 0-451-53026-8
2. What to Expect the First Year (PB)  ISBN 10: 0-7611-2958-8
3. Dust (by Martha Grimes) (PB)  ISBN 978-0-451-22266-4
4. Mary Poppins (PB)  ISBN-10: 0-15-201717-8
5. Catherine’s Heart (PB)  ISBN 0-7642-2259-7
6. Families Where Grace is in Place (PB)  ISBN 1-55661-266-4
7. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow & Other Stories by Washington Irving (PB-1963 copy!)
8. Peter Pan (PB)  ISBN 0-451-52088-2
9. The Shawshank Redemption  (PB)  ISBN 0-7515-1462-4
10. Joan of Ark (HB – older library copy – Jr. reader level?)

These books will be available until the end of Oct. or until they are GONE!  Whichever comes first!

Super Simple Songs by Knock Knock English

Knock Knock English has produced three Super Simple Songs music CD’s and one phonics CD that are just awesome for Early Learners – whose original language is Japanese or English.

We have been using Super Simple Songs 1 and 3 for the past few months at home and in Toddler’s Class.  The producers of these CD’s have two different approaches to the songs included. 

They simplify songs that are already out there.  For example -

If You Are Happy

And they slow them down.  My Toddler’s Mamas were so  happy that they could finally catch the words to Old McDonald on SSS CD #3.

Or they create original tunes to teach those basics such as colors, numbers, etc. in fun and easy ways.  Lots of repetition, simple tunes, and essential vocabulary.

Jun has picked up many songs just from listening to the CD’s.  With no help from me!  I was shocked!

We just got CD #2 and the Phonics CD and accompanying book.  Jun went bed the other night singing “a  a  a  a  apple.”  I think we will be just as pleased with these CD’s as we are with #1 and #3!

Check out their Website at the link above.  They have many helps, samples of the music, videos of the songs, teacher hints, and more on their website.  They are a Tokyo based school and the service is REALLY good.  I get the CD’s the next day (I’m in Saitama).  They also sell overseas, so don’t hesitate to check them out.  They take PayPal too!