Today is my birthday and the last day of my 42 Random Acts of Kindness project. I've left a box of 42 books in the suburbs of DC for people to take and read on their commutes. Each of these books or authors have been favorites for me, for members of my family, or for close friends. The books and the reasons they were included are listed below. Links have been provided when I could find them.
For those who did not come to my blog by way of one of these books, I included the following message within each of the 42 books:
Books aren't just words on paper we hold between our hands or digital sentences on a screen. They aren't static and lifeless. They weave tapestries in our minds, our hearts, and our souls. They change our fabric if we allow it, and sometimes they make us better people. They connect us to new worlds, new viewpoints, new experiences and, I hope, to each other. May your day be beautiful, kind, and full of love. May your mind be open to everything life has to offer. May you enjoy these books as much as I have.
Children's Books
1. Piko Panda Learns Color by Jamie Elder and Kathy Wilburn (illustrator)
My eldest's favorite animal has been a Panda bear since soon after she could talk. I included this stuffed book for a child who loves pandas as much as my daughter.
2. Winnie the Pooh: Roo's Big Adventure by A. A. Milne
As a little bean not much older than my eldest daughter, I received a set of Winnie the Pooh books from my great-grandfather. I read them until the spines broke and the pages turned brown on the edges. This book is included to honor him.
3. Mommy! Mommy! by Taro Gomi
Beautiful artwork that my girls loved to look at on a daily basis.
4. My World by Margaret Wise Brown
We are a household that has more books than anything else (games, movies, etc.) combined. We have read thousands of books with our kids in their lifetimes, yet for bedtime when they were younger, they stuck with a handful of favorites. Some we read so often we memorized them. This book (along with Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon) was one of those habitual reads.
5. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry (Illustrator)
The Little Blue Truck books have been favorites in our house for years (and still are), so I had to get a copy to share.
6. One Fish Two Fish by Dr. Seuss
Another favorite in our house, and a favorite of mine from my childhood.
7. If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond (illustrator)
This series is excellent for teaching beginner logic, plus the kids find the characters' antics hilarious. I've included this particular book because my daughter will be starting school this year and school-themed books have given her comfort in facing the unknown.
8. If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond (illustrator)
Another from the "If you . . ." series that my kids love so much. This one has dogs and donuts, two of their favorite things (like most kids their ages).
9. If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond (illustrator)
My kids talk incessantly about birthday parties, plus a pig in a dress is apparently the cutest thing ever. It's easy to see why this is one of their favorite books.
10. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Mo Willems, I mean really, what else can I saw? Pigeon, Piggie and Elephant (Gerald)--they're adorable, awesome, entertaining, and even I love reading those books over and over again. Two thumbs up from everyone in the household.
11. Best Friends for Frances by Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban (illustrator)
One of my childhood favorite reads. Whenever we got the chance to go to the library, I headed for the Frances books first.
12. National Geographic Jump, Pup! by Susan B. Neuman
My kids insisted this one had to be in the box. What kid doesn't like puppies? (Truly, my kids are only now starting to warm up to dogs, which they have decided are massive balls of fur with giant teeth, but puppies are something entirely different apparently)
13. Counting Kisses by Karen Katz
My girls have always been huge fans of Karen Katz's lift-the-flap books. At one point, I think we owned every title available (some with a lot of Scotch tape or missing flaps, but that's another tale for a different day!). This book, in particular, was a huge hit when they were younger. Acting out the kisses became a nighttime ritual for at least six months for each of them. We hope another family enjoys it as much as we did.
14. Paw Patrol: Chase is on the Case by Carolyn Hay and Fabrizio Petrossi (illustrator)
Every generation has that one favorite cartoon that becomes their everything, where they have to ask Santa for every toy made, they dress as the characters for Halloween, and every birthday is decorated for that show. For me, it was Strawberry Shortcake. For my kids, it's Paw Patrol. And for the parents who chose this book, whose kids also can't get enough of the stickers at the back of the book--you're welcome!
15. Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin and James Dean
The funny, rocking, rhyming, precocious cat Pete had to make the cut because seriously, even I own a Pete the Cat raglan shirt. For White Shoes, we made up a tune and sing the book instead of reading it. Try it! It's fun :).
16. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, John Archambault, and Louis Ehlert (illustrator)
17. Further Adventures of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
My children haven't quite gotten the same love of Peter Rabbit as I had as a child, but the books were some of my favorite reads (along with Little House on the Prarie and Winnie the Pooh) during the summers we stayed at my great-grandfather's rustic cabin in Maine. There's nothing quite like imagining that the rabbits hopping along the lake are friends with the animals I read about in my book.
18. Meteor by Patricia Polacco
My friend Shawn asked that I include one of Patricia Polacco's books in my giveaway box. Shawn is a big fan and expressed that Ms. Polacco is an "amazing author of books for elementary-aged children." Her books "tell the human experience in ways that children can understand and appreciate. In addition to this, Polacco's stories include many of her life experiences and the experiences of her loved ones. I have never read a Patricia Polacco book that didn't leave me better for it."
19. How Many Days to America by Eve Bunting and Beth Peck (illustrator)
My friend, Shawn, is a teacher in metro Atlanta. She recommended this book for the box because it's a powerful story about hope, and it's especially poignant at a time in history when asylum seekers and immigrants are misunderstood and maligned.
20. Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting and Ronald Himler (illustrator)
Another great recommendation by Shawn. For late elementary students (grades 3-5), there are few authors better than Eve Bunting. This story of a homeless boy, his father, and their make-shift extended family who live in an airport is a favorite for Shawn's students.
Middle Grade/Young Adult Books
21. The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
Gae Polisner is a fantastic writer of thought-provoking books and a beautiful human being. Definitely had to include one of her books in this box!
22. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
My friend Bekki asked me to include two books that made an impact on her. This is one of them. When I asked her why, she said, "Long before #metoo gained traction on social media and in our cultural experience, Speak became the book that helped many young people find a way to voice their experiences. The protagonist's struggle to find words for what happened to her is set across a backdrop of any town high school. One night changes everything. For anyone whose voice has been silenced, and for those of us who need to learn how to listen."
23. Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling and Kennilworthy Whisp
J.K. Rowling. Of course. Abso-fricking-lutely of course. Harry Potter was the first book in a long time that I stayed up all night to finish. There's a reason this imaginary world owns so many hearts, even so long after being published.
24. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Shawn, who I got to know better because she beta read my first fantasy book as part of my sister's book club, recommended this young adult fantasy for the box. As a child, she says she never enjoyed fantasy books. They didn't hold her interest. When she graduated from college and moved to metro-Atlanta, she met a co-worker who became a quick friend. The co-worker asked her if she had read this series. Shawn was uninterested, but because she respected her budding friendship, she gave the novel a shot. "I was glad I did!" she tells me. She found it to be a great series, and it helped her realize that as an adult, she loved fantasy novels. (Lucky for me!)
25. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
This book is the second that Bekki asked me to include. In her words, "Marcelo, our narrator, is different. He has autism. His father is a successful lawyer and is done letting his teenage son hide in his special school, separate from the world. Marcelo and his father strike a deal. Marcelo must work at his father's law firm, and navigate the real world according to the rules of the real world for the summer, and then he can choose what school to attend his senior year. Alongside Marcelo, the reader struggles with navigating the unwritten rules of the world, then a picture turns it all upside down. This book is a coming of age story with a twist. A boy who lives in the binary--the yes or no, the good or bad, the black or white--becomes a man who understands nothing is one or the other. Marcelo in the Real World is a lovely book about perception, loss, and living life to its fullest. It will get under your skin when you least expect it."
26. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater and
27. Blue Lily Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
Maggie Stiefvater is a wonderful author with a vivid imagination and an impressive gift for painting pictures with words. Plus, she's a fellow Virginian so I couldn't resist including her in the box (one book for each reason).
28. The Child Returns
Of course, this is my first published book. I'm not including it for that reason though, but because I now have so many wonderful friends in my life who I never would have met had I not published this series. Since I started the #42RandomActsOfKindness project partly as a way to count my blessings and remind myself of the gifts that matter in my life, it seemed fitting to include the book that brought so many unexpected blessings with it.
Adult Books
29. The Art of Charles M. Schulz by Charles M. Schulz
When I met my husband half a lifetime ago, Peanuts was one of his favorite comic strips. Gifting him something from Peanuts has become an annual tradition in our relationship, so in the box, this goes.
30. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
During high school, I had a summer job babysitting a 1-year-old while his mom worked. She bought her husband a copy of The Lord of the Rings for his birthday, so I read it every day while the little boy slept. Devoured it, actually. I fell in love with fantasy thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien.
31. Far Side Gallery by Gary Larson
My husband's other favorite comic strip, and one of mine (alongside Pears Before Swine). These panels still crack me up when I read them.
32. Our Dumb Century by The Onion
Growing up in Bangor (and outside of it in a small farming community), big cities terrified me until a few years after I moved to the DC area. I have since, of course, fallen in love with the convenience and culture. One of the first memories I have from shortly after I moved here was finding a little print paper called The Onion, a satirical mesh of political and social stories that had me laughing out loud on the trains as they rushed under the city streets. I looked forward to each new issue and every metro ride when I could grab a copy before taking the escalator underground.
33. America: Teacher's Edition by Jon Stewart, the Writers of the Daily Show, and David Javerbaum
Love Jon Stewart, love the Daily Show, and love their ability to mix thoughtful messages with comedy.
34. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I met one of my closest friends because I published my Aerenden series and donated copies of my books to a charity where she worked. I've included Ender's Game for her since it's one of her favorite books, and it reminds me of her every time I see it.
35. Night by Elie Wiesel
A compelling look at a dark time in our history we should never, ever forget or we, as susceptible human beings, will repeat it.
36. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
English class in high school posed a problem for me every year. While my fellow students complained about having to read the dusty, boring books from way before our time, I ducked my head over my desk and tried to avoid the conversations lest my classmates discover I was the oddball. I loved those books, every last "boring" word, the pictures they created, and the subtle questions they posed. Some I forgot about years after I graduated, but The Red Badge of Courage (and a handful of others) haunts me to this day.
37. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
A thought-provoking, heart-in-your-throat book written with gorgeous imagery, an inventive new world, and engrossing characters. A recent find for me, and one of my favorite sci-fi books.
38. Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway by Dave Barry
Back when we read the paper every morning after it landed in our driveway (before the internet became commonplace for news), I lived in Florida and devoutly read Dave Barry's humor columns. From hot and humid Florida I moved to (not quite as) hot and humid Northern Virginia. This book hilariously connects my two life stops.
39. Misery by Stephen King
I love Mr. King's writing, of course, but as a Mainer, this box would feel woefully incomplete without one of his books. Misery is a classic.
40. The Ruby Knight by David Eddings
As a teenager, before my first long plane ride, my mother took my sisters and me to the local bookstore and told us we could buy any book on the bargain table for the trip. I found this one and from that moment on, I was a fan. While The Lord of the Rings made me fall in love with fantasy, The Ruby Knight made me want to write it.
41. Voices of Ireland by Malachi McCourt
My grandfather came from a line of Irish immigrants and loved all things Irish in respect to his heritage. Traveling to Ireland to connect with cousins, collect stories, and explore the land where his relatives had been born--and he always felt his heart belonged--became a source of stories for decades. As all things in his life ultimately were. He often said proper storytelling was of utmost importance. (Make 'em believe it or don't bother.) Last year, my grandfather moved on to spinning yarns with the angels. He was my inspiration, so I've included this book in his honor.
42. Weird Hollywood by Joe Oesterle
My favorite job to date was (unsurprisingly) working in an office in the back of a Barnes & Noble College Bookstore. The division I worked for treated their employees well, and the people I worked with were fun and loved books as much as I do. I worked there for seven years until I moved out of the state. In that time, they invited me to their annual shows (purchasing, showcases on upcoming books and trends, award events, etc.) whenever they took place close to where I worked. The first time I attended, a friend and co-worker tugged on my arm to accompany her to the author signing table. During the event, the company flew in authors to sign books for employees. "How much?" I naively asked. "What? They're freeeeee," my friend sang giddily. I went home with an armful of heaven. The first book I had signed? A title from the Weird series. So, of course, I had to include one today (sorry, not the signed one though!).
For everyone who selected a book from the box, I hope you enjoy it and pay the kindness forward. For the rest of you, I hope you check out these titles and authors and maybe find some new beloved reads. Now, off to celebrate my birthday!