Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Give-Away #4

This week's give-away is actually quite special as it allows for multiple winners! Because I wanted to give more of you a chance to win something special during this year's challenge I decided to order four items from the Betsy-Tacy Society Gift Shop and offer them during the final week of this year's reading challenge.

To learn more about each item in this week's give-away all you have to do is click on the caption under each picture and it will direct you to the Betsy-Tacy Gift Shop where you can find a full description for that particular item.

A. Betsy-Tacy Bookmark

B. Maud Hart Lovelace Bookmark

C. Betsy's Trunk Pink Post-Its (4"x3")

D. Betsy-Tacy Book Magnet

The Rules for the MHLRC Give-Away #4:

1. Entries are to be made via comment on this blog post. Entries will be accepted up until 11:59 ET Saturday, November 5, 2011. In the comment left the participant should list which items are their 1st-4th choice (eg. #1D, #2A, #3B, #4C, etc.). In the case that more than one winner has chosen the same item as their first choice then a "first drawn, first choice" will be used to determine which winner wins which item.

2. This give-away is open to participants in the United States and Canada only.

3. All participants in the contest must be subscribed to the feed of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

4. One entry will be given for each participant who signed up for the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge prior to Saturday, October 22.

5. The participant cannot have already won a give-away during this year's MHL reading challenge.

Good luck!

Announcing the Winner of the Deep Valley Books

This week was another big give-away as the winning participant will receive a complete set of the Deep Valley books by Maud Hart Lovelace as published by Harper Collins Publishers in the fall of 2010. The Deep Valley books are "companion" novels to the Betsy-Tacy series and wildly popular amongst Betsy-Tacy fans.

 And now, without further delay... The winner (drawn completely at random) of this coveted set is.... 

Congratulations to Carrie! Please email me where you would like your books shipped.

For everyone else, stay tuned for further chances to win great items before the end of the challenge!

In closing, I would like to extend a final thank you to Jennifer Hart at Book Club Girl and Harper Collins Publishers for arranging the donation of the Deep Valley books for this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog (if you haven't already), check out Jennifer's website.

What Cabrillo Found by Maud Hart Lovelace

180 pages
Published in 1958
by Thomas Y. Crowell Company
New York, NY

Perhaps students of California history are familiar with the name Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, but having spent my school years on the east coast, I was not.

So who exactly was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and why did Maud Hart Lovelace write a book about him?


What Cabrillo Found by Maud Hart Lovelace is a little known children's book about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer who is most noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America during the early 1540s.

Cabrillo lived during a time of great exploration. All around him men sailed off in search of new lands to conquer in the name of their King or Queen. And sometimes in the name of "Christianity" -- though not always with a true desire of spreading the gospel, but rather to gain fame and wealth. Cabrillo was an exception to the latter. He was a man of courage and kindness, who explored, gave names to new lands in honor of the King of Spain, but remained honorable to the natives he encountered along the way. His goal was not to get rich, but to explore the unknown and along the way he made some incredible discoveries that have impacted the world as we know it.

I believe for this reason (and also simply because Mrs. Lovelace spent her later years living in California and called it home) she felt it was vital that Cabrillo's story be remembered and thus she wrote this little book.

The only problem with What Cabrillo Found is that Maud Hart Lovelace had very little research material on which to base her book. There is hardly anything on record about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in spite of his importance to North American history. There isn't even a known portraiture or etching of his likeness! Because of this, What Cabrillo Found is generally considered historical fiction, but I think it could be argued that this book could also be categorized as non-fiction and biographical in nature simply for the fact it was written from all the information about Cabrillo that was available at the time.

Still, What Cabrillo Found was an interesting read. Intended for children it reads simply and quickly. It's not one of Mrs. Lovelace's best works, but it was a worthwhile read and one I'd recommend to anyone curious to learn more about this explorer or those who, like me, are curious to read all of Mrs. Lovelace's works.

Overall I am glad I took some time to read this book as it has expanded my interest in North American history.


(Note to those looking for a copy of this book to read: I would suggest checking with your library and library's Inter-Library Loan program first. I found my copy online and paid just a few dollars for a decent hardback minus the dust-jacket. There are still a number of copies available online, but prices vary from as little as $10 to as much as $100.)


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Related links:

• Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Monument - The National Park Service
• Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo - San Diego History Center, Wikipedia Bio
• What Cabrillo Found: Biblio.com

Discover Deep Valley -- A New Release for all Betsy-Tacy Fans!

"To find Deep Valley in this bustling modern city, you have to close your eyes to the airport, to the streams of automobiles, and to many beautiful new homes and schools and shops. You have to imagine horses and carriages, ladies with trailing skirts and ruffled parasols and children in long black stockings."

~  Maud Hart Lovelace (1961)

As if there wasn't already enough to be excited about I have still further good news!

Discover Deep Valley: A Gudie to Maud Hart Lovelace's Mankato by Julie A. Schrader is hot off the presses this month and can be purchased through Minnesota Heritage Publishing's website.

The book is 190 pages and is available for immediate purchase for only $12.95 plus shipping and handling. (Note: When ordering you can mention the "2012 Betsy-Tacy Convention" and a portion of the proceeds from your purchase will go towards funding the convention.)

This is a book I simply HAVE to read and think you should too! To learn more, view excerpts, or order your own copy head over to MN Heritage's website.

Yeah for all things Maud!

Betsy-Tacy Fans it's Time to Mark Your Calendars!

The month of October may be quickly coming to an end and with it the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge, but there is some good news for those readers who just can't get enough of "all things Betsy-Tacy."

Mark your calendars! Because from July 19-22, 2012 you can join fellow Betsy-Tacy fans of all ages for a four day fun-filled time in Mankato, MN at the 2012 Betsy-Tacy Convention!

For newcomers to the Betsy-Tacy world you might be asking why Mankato, MN? The answer: for no other reason than the fact it is the perfect setting. Manktao, MN is the childhood home of Maud Hart Lovelace and the setting of Deep Valley within the Betsy-Tacy and Deep Valley books. It is where visitors can actually walk through the real homes of Maud (Betsy) and Bick (Tacy), pass by Carney's sleeping porch, and even sit on a little bench at the top of the Big Hill. Of course there are other benefits to visiting Mankato during the convention -- like making friends with fellow fans, learning more about the author of these delightful books, and just having a fantastic-fun-filled week. To learn more check out the Betsy-Tacy Convention website and the 2012 flyer.

In particular, the website details the 2012 Convention agenda, information on lodging and transportation, information on sight-seeing around Mankato and the Twin Cities, and of course convention registration.

But don't take my word for it, go visit these websites and start planning your own trip to Mankato to celebrate Maud Hart Lovelace and all things Betsy-Tacy!

Other related links:

• The Betsy-Tacy Society
• The Maud Hart Lovelace Society
• 2012 Betsy-Tacy Convention Facebook Page
• Follow the Betsy-Tacy Convention on Twitter.
• Spread the word via your own blog or Facebook page.
• Betsy-Tacy Houses Enchant Even Grown Up Girls
• Betsy-Tacy Convention 2009: Day One Report (Book Club Girl)

What's On My Nightstand: October 2011

Another month comes to a close. Between last month's nightstand post and this month's I read four books, three of which were on my nightstand when I posted in September, the rest... well I either gave up on them or they are still sitting there waiting to be read at some point in the future. Those I did finish included: 

• They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie
• Tramp for the Lord by Corie ten Boom
• Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie
• What Cabrillo Found by Maud Hart Lovelace

In addition to reading those four books I also attended my book club's meeting where we discussed the second section of Passion of the Western Mind (which focused on the Roman worldview and its affect on literature), William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and a few biographies from Plutarch's Lives.

And as if this wasn't enough for a part-time working mother who is also 8 months pregnant, I also coordinated the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge, which will come to a close in less than a week.

Yes, October has been a very full month... And I am definitely ready for a break.

During the month of November I have very little expectations for myself when it comes to reading and blogging. I'd like to catch up on some of my overdue book reviews, but I am hesitant to make any promises.

November will mark the last book club meeting for 2011 where we are to discuss George MacDonald's Phantastes. I have requested the book through ILL and hope to have it finished in time.

Otherwise I am keeping my reading to very light-easy reads with no definite plans. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what I read and when I read between now and when the baby arrives.

As for you... what are you reading this month? Leave me a comment or head over to 5 Minutes for Books and link up your own October nightstand post.

Happy reading!

Agatha Christie Reading Carnival - October 2011

It's been a little while since I referenced Kerrie's Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Carnival. It runs every month and is a place where readers can link up their reviews of all things Agatha Christie.

I read and reviewed Agatha Christie's little known spy thriller, They Came to Baghdad just in time to participate this month. You can read my link here, but be sure to stop by the Agatha Christie monthly carnival to see what other mysteries fellow readers and bloggers have discovered.

Maybe next month you can join in the fun too! Submit your blog article to the next edition (November 24, 2011 ) of the Agatha Christie Monthly Carnival using the carnival submission form.

Happy sluething err... reading!

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Give-Away #3

We're beginning the final week of October, which means we are also fast approaching the end of the third annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge. We have just two more give-aways (10/23-10/30 and 10/30-11/2). For those of you who have yet to win there is still a chance you could finish the month with a fabulous gift!

I am once again happy to announce that one lucky reader will soon be the proud owner of the Deep Valley books by Maud Hart Lovelace. Once again this week's give-away is courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers. These two volumes contain the three books that make up the series: Emily of Deep Valley, Carney's House Party, and Winona's Pony Cart. The Deep Valley series were reprinted in this format for the first time in October 2010.

Browse Emily of Deep Valley

Browse Carney's House Party & Winona's Pony Cart

For those still unfamiliar with this particular edition of these books here is a little information to wet your reading appetite:

This two volume set is made up of three books: Emily of Deep Valley and then Winona's Pony Cart/Carney's House Party. In addition to the stories, each volume contains a forward written by two celebrated authors and Betsy-Tacy fans: Melissa Wiley and Mitali Perkins. In addition to these wonderful forwards there are post scripts at the end of each volume that contain biographical information, fun facts, quotes, and photographs linking the real-life counter parts of each leading lady in this series to their fictional selves. Also included is a mini-biography about illustrator Vera Neville.

So have I captured your interest? Here's what you need to do in order to enter the giveaway:

The Rules for the MHLRC Give-Away #3:

1. Entries are to be made via comment on this blog post. Entries will be accepted up until 11:59 ET Saturday, October 29, 2011.

2. This give-away is open to participants in the United States and Canada only.

3. All participants in the contest must be subscribed to the feed of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

4. One entry will be given for each participant who signs up for the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge prior to Saturday, October 22.

5. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who links to a blog post where they have written a book review about one of Maud Hart Lovelace's books. The post must be recent (within the month of October) and should be a recent read vs. a reconnection read (i.e. remembering a book you read a while ago.)

6. The participant cannot already own the Deep Valley books.

7. The participant cannot have already won either of the two previous give-aways during this year's MHL reading challenge.

On Sunday, October 30th I will select the winners with the help of a random generator. Check back here later that day to find out who the winner is.

Good luck to you all!

In closing, I would like to again extend thanks to Jennifer at Book Club Girl for arranging the donation of the Deep Valley books to this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website.

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A Library is a Hospital for the Mind's Deep Valley book reviews:

• Emily of Deep Valley (2009)
• Carney's House Party (2009)
• Winona's Pony Cart (2009) 

Other related links:

• Melissa Wiley on Carney's House Party, Winona's Pony Cart and other Maud Hart Lovelace related topics.
• Mitali Perkins on Emily of Deep Valley and other Maud Hart Lovelace related topics.
• Soundtrack for Carney's House Party by Semicolon Blog

Announcing the Winner for the high-school and beyond Betsy-Tacy books!

This week was a BIG give-away as the winning participant will receive a complete set of the "high school and beyond" books within the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace as published by Harper Collins Publishers in the fall of 2009.

 

And now, without further delay... The winner (drawn at random) of this coveted set is....

JNCL

Congratulations to JNCL! Please email me {libraryhospitalblog AT gmail (dot) com}your mailing address so I can have the treasury mailed to you when it becomes available.

For everyone else, stay tuned for further chances to win great items over the next two weeks!

In closing, I would like to extend a very special thanks to Jennifer over at Book Club Girl and Harper Collins Publishers for arranging the donation of the "high school and beyond" Betsy-Tacy books for this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website.

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Give-Away #2

If you thought last week's give-away was exciting then you will probably love this week's give-away. Thanks once again to Harper Collins Publishers I am happy to announce one lucky reader will soon be the proud owner of the three volume set of Betsy-Tacy books! These volumes contain the "high school and beyond" books in the series and were reprinted in this format for the first time in October 2009.

Browse inside at HCP

Browse inside at HCP

Browse Inside at HCP

For those still unfamiliar with this particular edition here is a little information to wet your reading appetite:

This three book set is made up of two Betsy-Tacy per volume (i.e. 1. Heaven to Betsy & Betsy In Spite of Herself, 2. Betsy Was a Junior & Betsy and Joe, and 3. Betsy and the Great World & Betsy's Wedding). In addition to the Betsy-Tacy stories each volume contains a forward written by well-known 21st century authors such as Judy Blume, Ann M. Martin, and Meg Cabot (to name a few) who are all fans of the series and have a special memory or connection to the books. In addition to these wonderful forwards there are post scripts at the end of each volume that contain biographical information, fun facts, quotes, and photographs linking Maud and her friends and family in Mankato with her fictional counterpart, Betsy Ray and her friends and family in Deep Valley.

So have I captured your interest? Here's what you need to do in order to enter the giveaway:

The Rules for the MHLRC Give-Away #2:

1. Entries are to be made via comment on this blog post. Entries will be accepted up until 11:59 ET Saturday, October 22, 2011.

2. This give-away is open to participants in the United States and Canada only.

3. All participants in the contest must be subscribed to the feed of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

4. One entry will be given for each participant who signs up for the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge prior to Saturday, October 22.

5. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who links to a blog post where they have written about one of their favorite scenes or characters from a Betsy-Tacy book. Extra credit if the writer goes to the trouble to include quotes. (If you don't have a blog then leave your answer in the comments of this post with a way for me to contact you.)

6. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who refers a friend or fellow reader/blogger who then signs up for this reading challenge prior to Saturday, October 22. (The friend must make a note when signing up that they are coming by referral and who referred them.)

7. The participant cannot already own the Betsy-Tacy high school and beyond books.

On Sunday, October 23rd I will select the winner with the help of a random generator. Check back here later that day to find out who the winner is.

In closing, I would like to again extend thanks to Jennifer at Book Club Girl for arranging the donation of the Betsy-Tacy books to this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website.

Announcing the Winner for The Betsy-Tacy Treasury

So we had quite a few entries for this week's contest. The winner will receive a brand new copy of The Betsy-Tacy Treasury published by Harper Collins Publishers on November 8, 2011. The treasury contains the first four books in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.

And now, without further delay... The winner (drawn at random) of this coveted treasury is....

KAREN Y. LEE  

(Note: Winner failed to respond after repeated attempts to reach them; so a new winner was drawn on 11/6/11.)

AUDREY from Just Audrey

Congratulations Karen Audrey! Please email me [libraryhospitalblog AT gmail (dot) com}your mailing address so I can have the treasury mailed to you when it becomes available.

For everyone else, stay tuned for further chances to win great items over the next three Sundays!

In closing, I would like to extend a very special thanks to Jennifer over at Book Club Girl for arranging the donation of The Betsy-Tacy Treasury for this reading challenge. I would also like to encourage each reader of this blog to check Jennifer's website.

(UPDATED 11/6/11)

Rediscovering Maud Hart Lovelace: a post for both old-timer and the new-be readers

As you know, this is my third year hosting the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge and while many of you are new to this challenge others of you are joining me for the third time and thus I find myself in a bit of a quandary. How do I present information about this wonderful author so it interests those who've already read my previous posts and at the same time cover the basics for those readers who have just met Maud Hart Lovelace?

My solution is rather simple. Rather than re-post or repeat information I am going to give a few specific links to past posts for those interested. And then for the others (the "old-timers") I will explore a few new ideas that should lead to some unique and exciting posts in the coming weeks that they will enjoy as well.

So whether you're an "old-timer" to this challenge or a "new-be" I hope you'll stick around and take a minute to learn more about this wonderful author as you also explore the world of Betsy, Tacy, Tib, Carney, Emily, and the rest of the Deep Valley gang.

• So who is Maud Hart Lovelace? (My own little fun-fact filled mini-biography about Maud Hart Lovelace and her Betsy-Tacy series. 10/2010)
• More about Betsy, Tacy, Tib and Maud Hart Lovelace (Quotes, facts and links that will help you better know this lovable trio and their real-life counterparts. 10/2009)
• All Things Maud (Links to Maud Hart Lovelace resources including the Betsy-Tacy Society and Gift Shop and much more. 10/2010)
•  Friday's Fave Five - Maud Hart Lovelace Style (Five reasons why I love Maud Hart Lovelace. 10/2010)

Happy reading!

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Give-Away #1

It's time for the first give-away. This week participants of the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge can enter to win their own copy of The Betsy-Tacy Treasury!

The Treasury is a collection of the first four books in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace and will be released by Harper Collins Publishers on November 8, 2011.

To learn more about The Betsy-Tacy Treasury check out the promotional page at Harper Collins Publishers or my post from last week: Betsy-Tacy: The Beginning.

Please Note: This give-away runs from Sunday, October 9 through Saturday, October 15. The winner will be selected at random and announced here on Sunday, October 16. The Treasury will be mailed directly to the winner by the publisher around November 8, 2011 as per prior agreement between the publisher and this blog's owner.

The Rules for the MHLRC Give-Away #1:

1. Entries are to be made via comment on this blog post. Entries will be accepted up until 11:59 ET Saturday, October 15, 2011.

2. This give-away is open to participants in the United States and Canada only.

3. All participants in the contest must subscribe to the feed of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

4. One entry will be given for each participant who signs up for the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge prior to Saturday, October 15. If you are not yet participating please sign up here before Saturday.

5. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who links to a blog post where they have written how Maud Hart Lovelace or the Betsy-Tacy series has impacted or influenced them as a reader or individual; or has influenced a little girl they know in a positive way.

6. An extra entry may be earned by any participant who refers a friend or fellow reader/blogger who then signs up for this reading challenge prior to Saturday, October 15. (The friend must make a note when signing up that they are coming by referral and who referred them.)

Good luck and check back often this week for additional Maud Hart Lovelace postings!

They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie

280 pages
Published by Dodd, Mead & Company in 1951
Reprinted in  2002 by St. Martin's Paperbacks of St. martin's Press
New York, NY

I must confess I was a little hesitant when I picked up They Came to Baghdad from my local library. All summer long I had suffered from a sort of reading-funk which has kept me from finishing little more than a dozen books. So when I saw this novel, written by one of my favorite authors, was not one of her more famous "who-dunnit" murder mysteries, but instead a little-known adventure/espionage thriller set in post WWII Iraq I was not thrilled.

But determined to give it a chance (after all I am still endeavoring to read my way through all of Agatha Christie's novels in order of publication) I pressed on. And I am happy to tell you my first impression was wrong!

The Plot:
"Baghdad is holding a secret superpower summit, but the word is out, and an underground organization in the Middle East is plotting to sabotage the talks. Into this explosive situation appears Victoria Jones, a young woman with a yearning for adventure who gets more than she bargains for when a wounded spy dies in her hotel room. The only man who can save the summit is dead. Can Victoria make sense of his dying words: Lucifer…Basrah…Lefarge.…" (Harper Collins Publisher)

My Thoughts:
They Came to Baghdad now ranks as one of my all-time favorite novels by Agatha Christie. As I mentioned above, at first I was rather hesitant in reading this novel. I didn't have high expectations that it would be a thrilling read and I really didn't like the heroine, Victoria Jones, when she first enters the scene. But I kept reading and it wasn't long before I was hooked.

As I mentioned above, They Came to Baghdad is not your average Agatha Christie who-dunnit murder mystery, but instead a post-WWII espionage suspense thriller that include a few murders. The main story is set in Iraq during the early 1950s and while it revolves around Victoria Jones there is plenty of time for "sight-seeing" along the way and Christie makes time for it. At this time in her life, Agatha Christie was married to archaeologist Max Mallowan and spent a great deal of her time with him on digs in the Middle East. Her knowledge of the area and the work is woven seamlessly into this story without detracting from the thrilling story plot.

As the story draws to an end I am happy to report I changed my mind about Victoria Jones. Her character truly matures as the story progresses and as the lose ends are tied up I was delighted with the foreshadowing for Victoria that Christie included in the closing paragraph.

All in all, I must admit I was definitely surprised with this novel. In my opinion it's a definite winner and a top favorite for me. I highly recommend it to those readers who are looking for a variant from the typical English countryside murder mystery or those who love a good spy tale.

Up next, I'll return to Hercule Poirot and the English country village in Mrs. McGinty's Dead.

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Related Links:

• Harper Collins Publishers: Buy a copy of They Came to Baghdad
• AgathaChristie.com: They Came to Baghdad
• Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Carnival

My Other Agatha Christie Reviews:

*Novels published from 1920-1923 see note below.

The Man in the Brown Suit (1924)
The Secret of Chimneys (1925)
The Big Four (1927)
The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)
The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)
The Murder at the Vicarage (1930)
The Sittaford Mystery (1931)
Peril at End House (1932)
Lord Edgware Dies (1933)
Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1934)
Three Act Tragedy (1935)
Death in the Clouds (1935)
The A.B.C. Murders (1936)
Murder in Mesopotamia (1936)
Cards on the Table (1936)
Dumb Witness (1937)
Death on the Nile (1937)
Appointment With Death (1938)
Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1938)
Murder Is Easy (1939)
And Then There Were None (1939)
Sad Cypress (1939)
One, Two Buckle My Shoe (1940)
Evil Under the Sun (1941)
N or M? (1941)
The Body in the Library (1942)
Five Little Pigs (1942)
The Moving Finger (1942)

Towards Zero  (1944)
Death Comes As the End (1944)
Sparkling Cyanide (1945)
The Hollow (1946) 
Taken At the Flood (1948) 
Crooked House (1949) 
A Murder is Announced (1950)

Absent In the Spring by Mary Westmacott (a.k.a. Agatha Christie) (1944)

Agatha Christie, An Autobiography

* Christie's novels written from 1920 (The Mysterious Affair at Styles) through 1923 (Murder on the Links) I read before I began this blog hence no reviews are currently available.

Betsy-Tacy: The Beginning

My introduction to Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series came when my mother gave me a copy of Betsy-Tacy to me when I was eight or so years old. Although I enjoyed the book, I didn't get another chance to get to know Betsy and Tacy until I was in high school and from that point I became a life-long fan. Still, I think there is something to be said about starting at the beginning and having the opportunity to grow up with these books, which is why I am so excited about next summer.

Next summer my little girl will turn five and among some other milestones that she will reach I am planning to introduce her to Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly when I begin reading aloud to her from Betsy-Tacy, the first in the series. As a teenager (and even now as an adult) I love Betsy and Tacy, but I am really curious (and yes, eager) to see what it is like to meet them as a five year-old girls through the eyes of my own little girl.

Of course the timing couldn't be any more perfect than now because next month Harper Collins Publishers is reprinting the first four books from the Betsy-Tacy series in special collection -- The Betsy-Tacy Treasury.

To learn more about each of these books be sure to check out the reviews I posted:

Betsy-Tacy
Betsy, Tacy and Tib
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
Betsty and Tacy Go Downtown

If you haven't read these books before (or even if you have, but you know of some little girl who has yet to be introduced) now is the time to pre-order your own copy at: Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Of course, for one lucky participant in this reading challenge there is a chance to WIN a copy. To enter for a chance to win The Betsy-Tacy Treasury be sure to sign up to participate in this Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge before Sunday and then return on Sunday (10/9/11) to officially enter.

The 3rd Annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Commences!

Another year has flown by and it's once again time for the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge!

This challenge will run here at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind from October 1 through October 31 and will include book reviews, trivia posts, and give-aways!

Here are the "rules" to participate:


1. Select which Lovelace book (or books) you wish to read during the coming month.

2. Write a post announcing your plans to participate in the challenge. It can be as simple as linking to this post and stating you are going to participate, or you can include your reading list, or any sort of those you have about this reading challenge, the author or the delightful books she penned. Then sign up here by linking your name and blog to the challenge (see Mr. Linky below).

3. If you don't have a blog, but you do use Twitter be sure to 1) Follow this blog (@LibraryHospital) and then re-tweet this post before signing up for the challenge.

4. Email me if you would like to post the MHLRC button on your blog or website. (libraryhospitalblog AT gmail DOT com).

5. Return throughout the month to learn more about the opportunities to win copies of the Betsy-Tacy and Deep Valley series thanks to the generosity of HarperCollins Publishers who have offered to mail complimentary copies to the winning participants in this challenge. The other give-aways will include Betsy-Tacy other Maud Hart Lovelace related gifts. Check back each Sunday during the month of October to see what is being given-away and how to enter for a chance to win.

5. Visit around the blogs of other MHLRC participants. It's a great opportunity to get to know fellow bibliophiles and find out what books they love.

6. Come back on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 and link up your final Maud Hart Lovelace related posts/reviews or reading challenge wrap-up.

Have fun!