If I haven’t been too bold with my assumptions here, then trust me when I say that a new website launched by SONY called Words Move Me is right up your alley. The tagline states their mission: Connecting readers around the literary moments they love. If you think along the lines of social networking for book lovers, you’ll start to get the right idea. After registering and setting up your profile for the site, you can share the ‘literary moments’ that are meaningful to you, in 255 characters or less, tagging them with the book title and author’s name. You also have the ability to tag your entries with up to three emotions that you associate with each particular submission, giving another level of searchability to the site.

My personal experience with the Words Move Me site has been interesting and thought-provoking, from both the perspective of a submitter and a reader. I’ve searched for other users’ moments about books that I hold dear in my heart, and I’ve enjoyed seeing the very wide variety of emotions that have been used as tags. It’s eye-opening to see how so many other people out there have been affected by the power of stories. As I began to ponder what to submit myself, there were some immediate books that leaped to the forefront of my thoughts, undoubtedly the books that have made the biggest impressions on me. My submissions number a total of nine (so far, that is!), and you can see what I have to say in just a few words about some of my favorite literary moments right here in this handy-dandy widget of my Words Move Me profile. (Click on the ‘pages’ on the sides to navigate through my entries.)

Now, as with every new social media site out there, the larger the group, the richer the experience for everyone involved! So, I encourage you to check out the site and register for your own profile, so you can begin submitting the literary moments that mean the most to you.

In their effort to promote the Words Move Me site, SONY is generously offering a fantastic addition to our Gift Guide & Giveaway. In the spirit of full disclosure- for reviewing the site and sharing this promotion, I’ll tell you that I will be receiving a SONY Reader Pocket Edition (TM), valued at $199.99, but the best part is that SONY is offering an additional SONY Reader Pocket Edition (TM) for one of you lucky 5 Minutes for Books readers! (I’m so excited, so please forgive me my infomercial voice!)

Here’s the info that you need to know to enter this fabulous Gift Guide and Giveaway contest. It’s a little different for this giveaway, so please keep reading:

1. Leave a comment on this post describing a ‘literary moment’ of your own around a book that you’ve either given or received as a gift by describing what makes this book special to you.

2. One entry per person, U.S. addresses only, please.

3. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.

4. All entries will be read and reviewed by Jennifer and me, and we will assemble a list of our top ten favorites based on originality and content. A winner will be randomly selected from those ten entries.

5. The giveaway will close at 9:00 pm (EST) on Friday, 12/11, with the winners announced in a special post on Monday, 12/14. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information!

6. My hope is that there will be enough time to get the SONY Reader Pocket Edition (TM) shipped to the winner before the holidays, but if it’s a few days later, it can always be considered a New Year’s gift, too!

So, start thinking like the avid readers that you are, and we can’t wait to hear all about your own special literary moments! Don’t forget to visit Words Move Me to experience a new interactive book lovers community.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who shared their wonderful literary moments!!

Dawn loves any opportunity she can get to talk (or type) about the books that live forever in her heart and mind. Life, as she knows it, is chronicled on her blog, my thoughts exactly.

Each book features this group of diverse can-do girls as they read, discuss, and experience a classic novel, which dovetails nicely with the regular tween drama in their own lives.

The Mother Daughter Bookclub — (read mine and Amanda’s thoughts HERE) — introduces us to the girls and their moms. One reason that I like this series so much is that the mothers and the daughters are both fully characterized. Obviously reading literature featuring tweens can help you understand your own tween, but I think it can work in reverse too. There aren’t many books that feature parents in a realistic way, but this one does. In this first book, the girls delve into Little Women.

In the second book, Much Ado About Anne, the girls are now 12, dealing with a queen bee arch enemy, money troubles, and more. Check out my full review for my 5-Star impressions, and more details on the book and the series.

The third book Dear Pen Pal (linked to my full review) centers around the works of Jean Webster. Amanda and I each read Daddy Long Legs, and it was delightful. In this installment, the plot of the bookclub book is actually less prominent, and the story focuses on the girls, who are now quickly-maturing 8th-graders.

The classics read in the bookclub can pique a young girl’s interest in some of these books that she might not normally want to read. If you really want to round out the gift, try including the three classics that the fictional bookclub reads.

Carrie, our resident Anne fanatic, reviewed the Anne of Green Gables Treasury earlier this year, and it sounds like a perfect companion to this book, and Anne of Green Gables. She recommends it as a must-have for any Anne fan: “In this book you can learn how to prepare an Anne tea party (recipes included), orchestrate your garden with flowers that Anne likely (or did have) in hers, make-and-do crafts as Anne would have. The authors have done such a great job not trying to add to Montgomery’s work but rather to compliment it that I could not be more thrilled with it.

One of the things that so delights me about this book is that it is a work of love from mothers to their daughters to help them understand what life was life in the time that Anne lived.” Read her full review for more information about this terrific book.

While it’s fun to follow the story arc from beginning to end, each book stands on its own as well. And by the way, I hear that in the 4th book, the girls read Pride and Prejudice, and I can take a guess at the fun Lizzie/Darcy relationship that will be happening.

Jennifer gives these books her hearty endorsement, especially as a way to connect with that tween girl in your life. She writes about trying to do just that at her blog Snapshot.

One of you will receive the Anne of Green Gables Treasury, along with all three books in the series: The Mother Daughter Bookclub, Much Ado About Anne, and Dear Pen Pal.

Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.

This giveaway is now CLOSED.

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

This book would make a great gift for children ages 3 and up, but I would recommend adult supervision for kids under 5. The pop-ups are sturdy, but some are intricately designed and could be messed up by curious fingers. My five-year-old daughter truly loves this book. We don’t get much snow in Middle Tennessee, but she can enjoy the cold weather and snow through the pages of Snow Bugs!

The Bug series is not the only line of pop-ups created by David Carter. His acclaimed Color series, which started with One Red Dot, has a new title as well. White Noise: A Pop-up Book for Children of All Ages uses elaborate paper designs to stimulate the senses. This is not as much a story as it is a work of art and an exploration of art. This book is recommended for children ages 3 and up. As I mentioned before, young children may need supervision when handling the pop-ups, and that is especially true with the detailed paper structures in this book. Because they are fun and instructive, White Noise and the other books in this series would also be a wonderful donation to any art classroom or art program designed for kids.

Lauren is a wife, a mother of two, and an avid reader. She blogs at Baseballs and Bows. Lauren thanks Simon and Schuster for providing the review copies of these books.

We are happy to offer one copy of White Noise and Snow Bugs to one of you as part of our Gift Guide Giveaway. Please leave a comment on this post if you are interested (U.S. only).

Comments for this giveaway are closed.

The Immortals series consists of Evermore, Blue Moon, and the recently-released Shadowland (which brings us to the mid-point in the six-book series). These books follow the trend of the paranormal. Though I know that some younger kids try to jump on the bandwagon with some Young Adult offerings, I think that these books are definitely for teens. While there’s nothing overly explicit, there are many mature themes presented including drinking, physical relationships, not to mention some dark magic.

I’ve been taking in the series on audiobook. The excellent narration from Katie Schorr adds to the experience.

I don’t want to give anything away to those who might be just starting on the series, but I love the direction that Shadowland takes. More characters are introduced, including one that may get between Ever and Damen. Like Blue Moon, it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, which will leave teens counting down the days until the next book is released.

While audiobooks are sometimes quite expensive, MacMillian audio has made Shadowland available at a great price, and it even comes with a special commemorative Immortals necklace.

Consider audiobooks for the teen in your life. You could introduce them to a new series or buy the audiobooks of a favorite series to give them an additional way to enjoy one of their favorites.

Jennifer Donovan loves listening the great renditions of books produced as audiobooks. She blogs at Snapshot.

One grand prize winner will receive all three books in the series on audiobook CDs from MacMillan Audio. Three more of you will receive the Shadowland on CD audiobook.

Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.

This giveaway is CLOSED.

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

Now, the very cool thing to this mom is that Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars presents the process of drawing in very logical and easy to follow steps, encouraging young artists to begin with stick figures, add in basic shapes next, and finish by finalizing the fine details. Translucent pages lay over familiar Clone Wars character images, ready to be traced for practice. Complete with sketching pencil, black marker, colored pencils and an eraser, kids have everything they need in way of tips and instruction as well as materials and tools. My own son is just beginning to show interest in the visual arts, so this book will fit perfectly in his stocking this year!

Want to get a sneak peek at the book? Check out the official product page, or watch the promotional video, which ends with a Yoda-esque declaration of how valuable this book could be to your own young jedi artist.

Now, two toothbrush heads and little colorful motors are the provided materials for the activities described in Invasion of the Bristlesbots, a truly unique activity book for kids. With a cool variety of suggestions for mazes, races, and even sumo wrestling, I picture this being a Klutz book that gets lots of action and laughs. I personally love the directions for using colored paper clips to transform the bristlebots into insects and spiders- something I can see my own son fiddling away with for long periods of time.

Check out their product page for more images, and even a little video of the bristlebots in action, just in case this whole wacky idea is difficult to imagine.

Jennifer reviewed the Encyclopedia of Immaturity Vol. 2 last month on 5 Minutes for Giveaways, and here’s a bit of what she had to say about it.

The Encyclopedia of Immaturity: Volume 2 is a lot of fun. While I initially thought that it was targeted right to boys (and immature can’t-grow-up men), my 11-year-old daughter found a lot to like in here, including how to make a diamond ring (dime-in-ring out of a dime and a dollar bill), hand faces, do some magic tricks and play the spoons.

It’s quite sturdy, with a canvasy cover, covered spiral and thick pages — designed to hold up to lots of use and abuse. Check out the page for the Basketball Egg Launch for a great example of what you can expect.

If you’re in the mood for some of Klutz’s other fun selections, you should know that you can receive 25% off your order when you sign up for the newsletter, and through December 3rd, you can get 20% off AND free shipping on orders over $40 (use discount code SHIP at checkout for standard U.S. shipping only), or use HOLIDAY25 through December 16 to receive 25% off your entire order.

Dawn loves the Klutz books, and not just because of the former childhood nickname coincidence. Follow her at my thoughts exactly, for more wackiness, cute kids, and book talk.

Jennifer’s parents favored the ironic “Grace” nickname, but she is also a huge fan of all things Klutz. She blogs at Snapshot.

Two of you (U.S. residents) will win a set of all three titles, perfect to dole out at Christmas or upcoming birthdays or delight your own child.

Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks.

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

The book is set up as a series of letters sent from William, who is in Virginia visiting family, to his sister Eleanor, whose recently broken leg prevents her from traveling with him. With each new part of the state that he visits, he sends his letter and explains his “gift” as he shares information and fun facts. For my own children, this book is perfect holiday fun, since they’re quite accustomed to visiting their grandparents in Virginia, and have some experience with much of what the book shows.

Perhaps your own children haven’t been to Virginia, but they happen to live in Wisconsin or love their New York City home. Sterling Publishing offers ten titles in this series: Virginia, Wisconsin, New York City, California, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas! For holiday fun with an added bonus of some geography lessons, books in the The Twelve Days of Christmas in Virginia are perfect for families to read together this holiday season.

We’re so happy to offer up five copies from this series, and each winner may choose the title that fits their geographic preference! Leave a comment telling us which title you prefer: Virginia, Wisconsin, New York City, California, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina or Texas. (U.S. and Canada entries only, please.)

Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks!

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

Dawn’s 12 days of Christmas will be spent with the wild family, with a fair share of blogging at my thoughts exactly in the few quiet moments.

First of all, there’s Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting. You can read my review of Coop and see that I could not find enough nice things to say about the book. I still can’t. This book is perfect for people. (That’s not an incomplete sentence by the way.) If you are a person and you have a family, you will appreciate this memoir. Bonus points if you live on a farm. Author Michael Perry is an extremely good writer and this book is a nice, easy read.

What puts this book into the “Action & Adventure” category? Are you raising kids? Do you own a pig? ‘Nough said.

I also have to recommend The Sacred Cipher. I wrote a review of The Sacred Cipher around these parts recently and I absolutely loved it. It is clean, good fun. This book would be perfect for anyone who enjoyed the movie National Treasure with Nicholas Cage. It’s similar in kind to that. It is engaging reading, full of explosions and treasures hunts and yet it’s very clean. It’s unique enough to not keep you thinking of National Treasure, but it definitely has the same flavor to it.

I, for one, would love to see a movie made out of this particular book. Definitely one to highlight on your gift list!

I wrote a review of Night of Flames over on my own site, Reading to Know and found this to be an interesting novel about World War II. It focuses on the invasion of Poland, which is a country you hear less about in the fiction department, making it a more unique read. It does have some language issues in it, but as I mentioned in my review, I thought the language was directed at the right people and was used well (or, as “well” as foul words can ever be). I found this story to be very thought-provoking. Author Douglas Jacobson is a very good story teller and so I’d recommend this book to people on your Christmas list who enjoy Historical fiction, specifically related to World War II.

I am over the moon excited by this particular book. I read and wrote up a review of The Silent Gift over at Reading to Know and I would heartily recommend and encourage that you give the review a read, and then hurry out and find a copy of this book for yourself. If you or anyone you know enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale, then you will enjoy The Silent Gift. Incredibly clever and exciting book and I enthusiastically recommend it several times over.

SEVERAL times over!

Lastly, Jennifer read and reviewed Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan here at 5 Minutes for Books, and she thought it would make a great book for that book-loving guy in your life. She would describe this book as a male coming of age story. This book would be good for those who enjoy reading about religion, stories set in the Middle East, or fans of well-written exotic (adventurous?) memoir.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know and Reading My Library.

Now I am happy to announce that one of you have a chance at winning one copy of each of the above mentioned titles. If you would like to be entered to win, please leave one (and only one!) comment below.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

The beauty of this classic holiday tale shines through in John Cech’s new version of The Nutcracker, amazingly illustrated by Eric Puybaret. The full story is told with detail and flair in this picture book for older children, with a lengthy text that invites parents and children to snuggle under a blanket for an extended reading aloud session, preferably by a warm fire. (Maybe this just happens to be my own image of a perfect Christmas story time.)

If you’re at all familiar with the holiday ballet, you won’t be disappointed by Cech’s version, which also incorporates other details true to the original story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman. The illustrations in this book are truly exquisite, with the fantastic creatures depicted in long, angular lines, just as nutcrackers ought to be. The vibrant color hue is perfectly suited to the season, and parents will delight in reading this story aloud as much as children will enjoy hearing it!

Secrets of a Christmas Box is a middle-grade novel that creates a world inhabited by the Christmas tree ornaments and lights in one suburban family’s collection. The story opens with Larry, a glass snowman ornament, along with his girlfriend Debbie and a new-to-the-collection toy soldier dubbed Splint, searching for one of their own who seems ‘not to have made it back’ to the tree this year. They make the fateful decision to break the ultimate rule for the Tree-Dwellers, leaving the tree itself, in an effort to search out the Christmas Box where they are stored every year. Along the way, they find danger, adventure and challenges galore. The tone and pace of the action are just the right fit for an older elementary school audience, and Hornby paints a whimsical world in what has become a staple of every holiday season for so many children.

With suspenseful and surprising moments, Secrets of a Christmas Box makes for a great read during the holidays, and I personally look forward to sharing this story with my own nine year old this winter. I predict that each time I glance in the tree’s direction, I’ll be watching for any sly movements amongst the ornaments. You never know, right?

For the final book, let me start by saying that my adoration for the writing of Wally Lamb is immeasurable. From this humble reader’s judgment, Lamb is a masterful storyteller whose incredible talent at creating ultra-believable characters never ceases to astound me. While we had to wait years between his last two novels (what felt like many, many years for his devoted fans), he has followed up on last year’s The Hour I First Believed with a new novella, Wishin’ and Hopin’.

Back in the fall of 1964, Felix Funicello, third cousin on his father’s side to that famous former Mouseketeer Annette, was a fifth grader at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial school in the town of Three Rivers, Connecticut. (Readers of Wally Lamb will recognize this fictional town from his previous works, and should know that this is based upon the area in Eastern Connecticut where he resides, and where I hail from, as well!) When he’s not avoiding the punishments of the Sisters at school, he can be found at his family’s lunch counter in the New London bus station, where he is exposed to a whole different world of conversations and adult asides that his ten-year-old brain can’t always seem to figure out. Told in his childhood voice, the story that unfolds over the next few months is as outrageously funny and endearingly realistic as can be. From one mischievous act flow a series of events that make for the most memorable school year of Felix’s life.

Somehow, Lamb brings to life the feeling of this area of Connecticut in a way that I have yet been able to articulate. But when I read this novella, I could hear my grandparents’ voices speaking to me, and the familiarity of the culture of this area leaped off the page. Even within the exact time frame, I could imagine my own father among Felix and his classmates, especially since I’ve been privy to some of the mischievous tales from his youth! Once you start to read Wishin’ and Hopin’, it’s very easy to forget about everything else around you. As a much shorter read than Lamb’s other publications, this is the perfect little book to stuff the stocking of spouse or parent, or to pick up for yourself during the few days work is closed over the holidays!

All Dawn wants for Christmas is a happy and healthy family, and perhaps more time to blog away at my thoughts exactly.

Now for the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of Secrets of a Christmas Box in velvet drawstring bag, with promotional stickers, pencils, and balloons, a copy of The Nutcracker, and a copy of Wishin’ and Hopin’! One runner-up will receive the gift package of Secrets of a Christmas Box. Please leave a comment here (just one!) to enter, U.S. only, please.

Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks!

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.