Lollipop and Grandpa's Back Garden Safari - Penelope Harper and illustrated by Cate James

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Summary:
Back gardens have never been this exciting! Lollipop and Grandpa are intrepid explorers, always on the lookout for the next adventure! It’s often just the two of them against the world in their expeditions, armed only with ham sandwiches and imagination. In this book they set out on an exciting expedition in the back garden where they encounter Chimpan-trees, a Hippo-potta-compost and even a Croco-logus. They’re prepared for action, but will Lollipop and Grandpa make it back home safely?~~~

I was given this book a little while ago and I completely fell in love with it. The story is charming, imaginative and heart-warming. It's great for kids who want to have some adventures in their garden or in the park - instead of a boring patch of grass, they can discover a world full of danger and scary creatures like the Chimpan-trees or the Croco-logus. Any corner of the garden can transform into a scary creature and there really isn't a peaceful place to eat ham sandwiches!
The illustrations by Edinburgh-based illustrator Cate James are simply fantastic. They're very stylish and evocative and play on textures as well as colour. The font is really easy to read and Penelope Harper's story is well-paced, funny and an amazing springboard for children's imagination. 
This is an adorable book for grandparents to read to their own little explorers and this is the start of an amazing picture book series about Lollipop's adventures with her Grandpa. Thumbs up from me!

Lollipop and Grandpa's Back Garden Safari, by Penelope Harper and illustrated by Cate James | 2012 | Phoenix Books | Age 3 to 5 | Gift

Wanted: Topless Dungeon Master

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Just saw this on io9.com:

Woman DM needed for D & D based Adult Bachelor Party (Pringe George's County, MD)

Description:

Looking for a woman with Dungeon Master experience in Dungeons and Dragons (specifically 3.0 or 3.5 editions) to run a game. The event is for a Bachelor Party and the "future husband to be" would prefer if the DM could be topless. With that said, I ensure you that nothing else is expect of you other than an exciting adventure.

Requirements:

Dungeon Master experience in Dungeons and Dragons (preferably in 3rd or 3.5 Editions)Must be able to provide a picture including the face and body (No nudes please.)It is preferable that cup size be at least C or greater.

If books are needed it must be stated ahead of time however it would be preferable if the DM had her own.

Clientele:

There will be 5 "guys" that will be participation including myself. We are at all above the age of 24. Each of us are gentlemen and will treat the Dungeon Master with the utmost of respect.

Compensation:

I honestly don't know how to charge for this kind of service because it's not something typically done so the compensation will be negotiated. It's expected that the session last no less than 30 minutes.

Date:

A day prior to October 11th (The Day of the Wedding) would be ideal.

Location:

The location will be negotiated but priority will be give to the preference of the Dungeon Master.

Any other questions will be answered as needed. Only serious applicants need apply.
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I'm speechless. . . :/

Win a copy of Justin Cronin's THE TWELVE

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I received an extra copy of Justin Cronin's The Twelve, sequel to the bestseller The Passage (Canada, USA, Europe), so I'm giving it away to one lucky winner! For more information about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

In his internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed novel The Passage, Justin Cronin constructed an unforgettable world transformed by a government experiment gone horribly wrong. Now the scope widens and the intensity deepens as the epic story surges forward with . . .

THE TWELVE

In the present day, as the man-made apocalypse unfolds, three strangers navigate the chaos. Lila, a doctor and an expectant mother, is so shattered by the spread of violence and infection that she continues to plan for her child’s arrival even as society dissolves around her. Kittridge, known to the world as “Last Stand in Denver,” has been forced to flee his stronghold and is now on the road, dodging the infected, armed but alone and well aware that a tank of gas will get him only so far. April is a teenager fighting to guide her little brother safely through a landscape of death and ruin. These three will learn that they have not been fully abandoned—and that in connection lies hope, even on the darkest of nights.

One hundred years in the future, Amy and the others fight on for humankind’s salvation . . . unaware that the rules have changed. The enemy has evolved, and a dark new order has arisen with a vision of the future infinitely more horrifying than man’s extinction. If the Twelve are to fall, one of those united to vanquish them will have to pay the ultimate price.

A heart-stopping thriller rendered with masterful literary skill, The Twelve is a grand and gripping tale of sacrifice and survival.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "TWELVE." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!

You can read an extract here.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (October 1st)

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In hardcover:

David Weber’s Midst Toil and Tribulation debuts at number 10. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons is down one spot, finishing the week at number 13. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Brent Weeks' The Blinding Knife is down nine positions, ending the week at number 20. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Deborah Harkness’s Shadow of Night is down three spots, finishing the week at number 26. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Dean Koontz’ Odd Apocalypse is down five positions, ending the week at number 30.

In paperback:

David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas maintains its position at number 5 (trade paperback).

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones is up one position, ending the week at number 6.

George R. R. Martin's A Storm of Swords is up two spots, finishing the week at number 9.

George R. R. Martin's A Feast for Crows maintains its position at number 10.

George R. R. Martin's A Clash of Kings is up one position, ending the week at number 12.

Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus is down one position, ending the week at number 15 (trade paperback).

Stephen King's 11/22/63 is down four positions, ending the week at number 16 (trade paperback).

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is down seventeen spots, finishing the week at number 31.

Deborah E. Harkness' A Discovery of Witches returns at number 35 (trade paperback).

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

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You can now download Nancy Kress' Beggars in Spain, the novel-length version of the novella for which she won both the Hugo and the Nebula Awards for 0.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

In a world where the slightest edge can mean the difference between success and failure, Leisha Camden is beautiful, extraordinarily intelligent ... and one of an ever-growing number of human beings who have been genetically modified to never require sleep.

Once considered interesting anomalies, now Leisha and the other "Sleepless" are outcasts -- victims of blind hatred, political repression, and shocking mob violence meant to drive them from human society ... and, ultimately, from Earth itself.

But Leisha Camden has chosen to remain behind in a world that envies and fears her "gift" -- a world marked for destruction in a devastating conspiracy of freedom... and revenge.

Wonderstruck - Brian Selznick

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Wonderstruck - Selznick, Brian 
Summary: Having lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, twelve-year-old Ben leaves his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in New York City, and meets there Rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life. Ben's story is told in words; Rose's in pictures. 

Paulina's Review It's one of those books that you can't take your eyes off of it. It's about a boy, Ben,who wants to find his father and a girl ,Rosa, who runs away from home to get help. Ben is a deaf boy who wants to find his dad and so is Rosa, except she runs away from home to get help. I loved it. 
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Hidden - Helen Frost

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Hidden - Frost, Helen 
Summary: When fourteen-year-olds Wren and Darra meet at a Michigan summer camp, both are overwhelmed by memories from six years earlier when Darra's father stole a car, unaware that Wren was hiding in the back. 


Paulina's Review In this book, you never know what's next and it's a bit suspenseful without you being freaked out. The book is about two girls, Wren and Dara, whose pasts together aren't the best and they try not to think about it - but they end up having to see each other later on. Wren is a 14 year old girl who goes to camp every year with her friends. Dara, 14 year old girl, has been forced to go to camp this year and doesn't like Wren, because due to Wren, Dara's mom and dad divorced. They turn out having to talk to each other. I loved it. 
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