Book Cover Doppelgangers

I was wandering around the book store searching for the book "The Spy and the Traitor" by Ben Macintyre. It was to be a gift for my dad. I scanned the shelves for the cover - black, white, and red with a silhouette of a mysterious mad walking toward some Russian buildings.

Ah-ha! There it is!

Oh, wait. That's not it. I held up the picture on my phone next to it. I continued to search and finally found what I was looking for.

Here it is.

Can you see why I was confused?

Different title. Different author. Different publishers on a different date.

Both black, white and red. Both with a silhouette of a single man walking towards the same Russian buildings (one is a little closer than the other).

They were so close I took a photo of them together:

So, am I missing something or is this just a coincidence? Is there some sort of relationship between them?

I did a search but couldn't find anything about these cover, but I did find links to lists of other books that are similar. Seems to be something that happens quite often.

• Same Cover, Different Book.
• COVER CLONES!

What are your thoughts about books with similar covers?

What would you do if you found a book with a cover that was almost the same as yours?

Tap Dance Day!

Shuffle-Ball-Change! May 25th is Tap Dance Day!

I took tap dancing lessons when I was little and enjoyed it very much. I always felt so special in my tap shoes.


Interesting fact: 
Early tap shoes were made by hammering pennies or hobnails (a short, thick-headed nail commonly used on boot soles)  into the toe and heel of the shoe. When the performer danced the metal would create a tapping sound when their foot hit the hard ground or stage. https://ourpastimes.com/the-history-of-tap-dance-shoes-12185380.html

Question:
Have you ever tap danced? If not, what kind of dancing have you done?

Books:
Here's a list of some children's books about turtles:

Rainbow Magic Dance Fairies: Tasha the Tap Dance Fairy - By Daisy Meadows - Scholastic

How to tap dance:

Brother's Day

Love them or hate them. Today, May 24th, is Brother's Day.

I have an older brother and, yes, I do love him - but don't tell him I said that. 😜

Question: Do you have any brothers?

Books:
Here's a list of some children's books about brothers:

• The Orphan Rescue - by Anne Dublin - Second Story Press
• The Wright Brothers - by Elizabeth MacLeod and illustrated by Andrej Krystoforski - Kids Can Press
• No Room for Baby - by  Émile Jadoul and illustrated by  Émile Jadoul - Kids Can Press
• Little Brothers & Little Sisters - by Monica Arnaldo - Owlkids
• Me and My Brother - by Ruth Ohi - Annick Press

Turtle Day!

It's time to "shellebrate" because May 23rd is Turtle Day!

Interesting fact: 
A turtle's shell is part of its skeleton. More facts at https://www.natgeokids.com/za/discover/animals/sea-life/turtle-facts/

Question:
What is known as Turtle Island?

Books:
Here's a list of some children's books about turtles:

• Franklin the Turtle - by Paulette Bourgeois and illustrated by Brenda Clark -  Kids Can Press
• Old Turtle - by Douglas Wood and illustrated by Cheng-Khee Chee  - Scholastic
• Turtle Island: The Story of North America’s First People - by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger - Annick Press
• Hatchling’s Journey - by Kristin Bieber Domm and illustrated by Jeffrey Domm - Nimbus Publishing
• Leatherback Blues - by Karen Hood-Caddy -  Dundurn
• Turtle Pond - by James Gladstone and illustrated by Karen Reczuch - Groundwood Books

Freedom to Read Week Quiz

As part for Freedom to Read Week, I am posting the Which Challenged (Canadian) Book Should You Read? quiz created by McMaster University Library.

My result was, A Jest of God by Margaret Laurence. Read how this book was challenged at http://www.freedomtoread.ca/challenged-works/a-jest-of-god/

Take the quiz and let me know in the comments which Canadian book you should read.

Author Tara Lazar first vlog - Taking a Break (But Not Really)

Author Tara Lazar

A couple of days ago I visited the EMU's Debuts Blog where Tara Lazar posted her first "Vloooogg!" - Taking a Break (But Not Really)

Not only is her vlog post entertaining, she also provides some very useful information for writers. She talks about how taking a break helped her land her second book contract.

I highly recommend you visit EMU's Debuts Blog and check out Tara Lazar in her comical vlog performance, Taking a Break (But Not Really)

Also be sure to visit Tara's Blog at http://taralazar.wordpress.com/

HUNTED Book Trailer + First 6 pages - by Cheryl Rainfield

Read the first 6 pages of HUNTED a paranormal fantasy YA book by Cheryl Rainfield

A Free Kindle book for people in the US

OK here is a freebie for all my American friends who have Kindle.
Arthur Slade's, Edgar-nominated horror DUST (the Kindle version) is available for free for a short time on Amazon.

Here's the link you need:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M8SSBO

Enjoy!

Your Book Cover In A Game

What if your book cover could be part of a "spot the differences" game....on your site.....for free?

Free interactive media of your cover, logo or anything else you can think of is available at http://mediabarr.blogspot.com/

Help keep people at your site and passing your game on to friends.

Also, thought the scratch card might be a great idea for wishing a friend a happy birthday, we're pregnant or any other special message you might have for that someone special.

Cover Reveal Fun!

Cheryl Rainfield, author of SCARS (WestSide Books, March 24, 2010) has just revealed the cover of her new book. So, I've created a little fun using her new cover.



Adobe Flash Player is required.

Some YA Books Dontated! Yippy!

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of meeting fellow writer Joanne Levy at a local coffee shop. We had meet through twitter and have been corresponding ever since.

When I sent out a tweet about the book drive my work was doing for Habitat for Humanity, Joanne was one of the first people to pipe up. She wanted to donate some books. Fantastic! When we met we talked for a bit and I expected her to hand me a book or two. I was shocked when she hoisted up onto the table a bag FULL of YA books. Ten in all. Yes, TEN.

After picking my jaw up off the floor, we went through the books - some even signed. I cannot believe how generous people can be for people they have never met.

Below is a photo and a list of the books Joanne has donated.

• Radiance by Alyson Noel (x2)
• Trance by Linda Gerber (x2 - 1 which is signed)
• Wake by Lisa McMann (x2 - both signed)
• Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook
• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (signed by Margaret Stohl)
• Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King (signed)
• What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook

Joanne, thank you so much for the wonderful books. You're so generous. They look like fabulous books and I think I am going to have to go buy some of them for myself. I'm sure the families going into these HFH new homes will love them.

Interested in donating a book to the book drive? Please email me at auntieflamingo@gmail.com or visit me on twitter @auntieflamingo for more information.

Your help is needed. We need books for children of all ages.

I'm So Excited And I Just Can't Hide It!

Today, I received a package filled with children's books for our Book Drive for Habitat For Humanity Hamilton Robert Land Project (Phase 1) and the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre library.

And what is more exciting is I'm in Canada and these books were sent to me from Australia! I would like to send a huge, heart felt thanks to writer BELINDA J of Australia for sending me the following books and DVD:

• And Kangaroo Played His Didgeridoo - by Nigel Gray - illustrated by Glen Singleton
• When Henery Caught Imaginitis - by Nick Bland
• Henry and Amy (Right-way-round and upside down) - by Stephen Michael King
• Mutt Dog - by Stephen Michael King
• The Pocket Dogs - by Margaret Wild - illustrated by Stephen Michael King
• Za-za's Baby Brother - by Lucy Cousins
• Let's Read DVD and posters

Belinda and I only know each other through twitter.

Belinda, I was over joyed when I received the package and overwhelmed by your generosity. One of the conditions to be met for these families to qualify for these homes is they must be prepared to contribute hundreds of hours of Sweat Equity (work on the home.) Children of the families can contribute to these Sweat Equity hours by keeping their grades up. Books, such as these, and reading will help them achieve this goal and more in life.

Interested in donating a book to the book drive? Please email me at auntieflamingo@gmail.com or visit me on twitter @auntieflamingo for more information.

Your help is needed. We need books for children of all ages

The Book Drive Is ON!

There is so much I want to tell you I'm not sure which point to start with first. If you want to jump directly to the book drive information just scroll down to the title BOOK DRIVE.

I'll start with this: I do not like to donate money to charity!

It's true. The reason I don't like donating money is because I don't know where my money is going. Is it going to administration fees? Is it going to someone who is abusing the charity? Is someone else pocketing it before it gets where it needs to go? Is the charity actually a scam?

I know it's a terrible thought but these things happen.

I do want to donate and I like to volunteer so I jumped at the opportunity, through my day job, at a chance to volunteer with Habitat For Humanity on a building project in my community. There are two reasons why I wanted to help with this organization.

1) I'm donating my time and as much or as little as I want. I know exactly where my time is going and I am doing good.

2) The families who require the organization assistance is getting a "hand up" not a "hand out." These families have to put in “sweat equity” into their home - meaning they help build it and are taught how to maintain it.

Ok so what does this have to do with a book drive?

The build I'm participating in a Phase 1 consisting of 4 town home units. So far the families that had have been accepted for these home are single mothers of 3 or more children. I am a married, working mother of 2 children and I know how difficult that is financially, physically and emotionally. These mother's are raising 3 or more children on their own while working 2 or 3 jobs. I can't imagine how they do it.


BOOK DRIVE
We have decided to hold a book drive for these families and I need your help. I am looking for children's books from infant to Young Adult. If you are interested in donating you can email me at auntieflamingo@gmail.com and I can give you more information and where to send your books.

AUTHORS! I have extra information for you. If you would like to donate a signed copy of your book just email me at auntieflamingo@gmail.com and let me know. I will send you information on where to send your book. When I receive your book I will post your donation on both my blogs, http://madelinebarr.blogspot.com/ & http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/ PLUS I have been given permission to post your donation on our HFH blog at http://cawlocal555socialjustice.blogspot.com/

So, a book for us, exposure for you and another child reading. You can't argue the importance of a child reading....can you?

How much exposure will you get? Not sure exactly but let's put it this way:

- Your book posted on 3 blogs
- I'll tweet your donation @auntieflamingo
- There are more than 7,800 staff at my work. More than 2000 are in the union supporting this build.
- The build has barely started and has been in the newspaper 3 times 4 times as of october 5, 2010.
- The populations on my city is roughly 504,559
- You will get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you were part of something special

I hope to get enough signed book donations to put into a special package (like a large basket or something.) I plan on handing over the signed books separately from the other books.

One more note: I believe in Habitat For Humaity so much (now that I know more about the organization) I plan to participate in future builds after this one with my work.

More information:
Habitat For Humanity Hamilton: http://www.habitathamilton.ca/Home.aspx
CAW Loca 555 HFH Build Blog: http://cawlocal555socialjustice.blogspot.com/
Habitat For Humanity Canada: http://habitat.ca/index.php