Gathering Around Books- Betsy Pendergrass

This book is one of
My favorite beach books.

It has the best information
and the most gorgeous
and inspiring illustrations.

Every single time
we get pull this book out
I want to run and grab
blank notebook
and color pencils
and start trying to
replicate some of this art.

Am I alone?
or do you do this too?

Does your child
Get jazzed about real facts
Or make-believe?

This can make a huge
Difference in finding a
Book that they would
Love to read.

A $1.00 airplane makes a
Phenomenal reading prize
When you take it and
Create an amazing airplane
Contest with it.

Get the entire family involved.

Make a big deal out of the fun.

Take turn about and see who
Can throw it the furthest.

Also you can set up a target
And see who can hit it.

But first:
-Grab the punch cards from link
In bio.
-Read to or have your child read
4 books (or 30 minute segments)
-And give him/her the prize.

Then let the airplane fun begin.

Let this week be a week
Where you nurture reading
In your home.

Who’s in?

Read.

It isn’t hard.
And you can create memories
your child may never forget.

And while you’re at it
thank the Lord we have
the freedom to read!

God bless America!





🇺🇸

We read about what
interests us.

The same is true for kids.

Take some time and ask
for kids
to go deeper.

What is a book you loved
as a child?

We are celebrating dads
at Gathering Around Books today.

We love our dads!

These men love
us well.

Some of them are our
birth fathers
and some are our
fathers due to circumstances.

We are better people
because the Lord
put them in our lives.

May the world must never miss
thee difference they make
(And have made).

We are so grateful.

Would you like a great
beach trip book?

How about a stay-cation book
where you can read about the beach?

Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion is
a perfect book for you.
 
Harry is a cute little
black and white dog
who just can’t seem
to stay out of trouble.

Everywhere he goes he
ends up in crazy situations.

If you have a child
who does the same this
book could be very comforting.

Have you read one of
the many books about Harry?

Need a girl’s devo book?
This is such a sweet
and powerful option.

Not only did it encourage
our girls but I usually
came away encouraged
as well.

It’s a great length for
an encouragement at bedtime!

Have you read it?

Elizabeth Jane
Created these cute
check lists
for kids to use
to make your very own
summer reading challenge.

I have put the like to
the article that has
a link to download these
By just clicking the button
in the article.

This is what they look like!
For each 4 books
they read,
or have read to them,
they fill a card
And get a prize.

We have created a set
of prizes that you can purchase
for less than 7 dollars
and are going to give you
ideas of activities you can
do with these prizes.

Stay tuned as we unfold
these ideas this week.

Would you like an easy
fun summer DIY reading program?

We are so excited!
our Little Lending Library
has its place
at our new home.

We turned it toward
the sidewalk this time.
our street is busy
And there are a LOT
of walkers.

Our last neighborhood
had 3 already
so we didn’t put ours up.

This is the only one
in our whole neighborhood
this time!!

I hope it is a joy
to everyone!

Do you frequent
a lending library?

Want an amazing boy
devotional book?
You will captivate his heart with this one.

This devotional book
“Offers the truth about what it
really means to grow up strong,
brave,
And true.”

We have read it to both
our fellows when they were
In elementary school.

In fact our pages are falling out
because we have read it
so many times.

Let’s be honest…
There just aren’t that many
Books written to inspire boys
To be godly men.

Have you read this one?

This book was read to me
By my 5th grade teacher,
Mrs. Alexander.

I remember us sitting
on the edge our our seats
waiting to know what was
going to happen next.

We hated for a chapter to end.
we begged for her to read
just one more chapter.

Some days we would have
a few moments before the bell
and she’d slip in one more.
(Those were the best.)

And now I have read it
every
single
5th grade year
to my kids.

Thank you God,
for great teachers
who help nurture reading!

Who was your teacher that
read great books to you?

Take some time for you today, Mom.

Just enjoy this day and know
That we appreciate you
And love you.

Pull that book off the shelf
You haven’t had time to read
And just savor it.
(Hide in the closet if you must.)

We are sending you a
Big hug from our house to yours!
And I hope you enjoy
This hilarious pic!
My girls are so dear.

Happy Mother’s Day friends.

Kate DiCamillo is one of
Our favorite writers!

Stella Endicott and the
Anything-is-Possible Poem
is truly one of her most delightful books.

We love Mercy Watson
(You just have to meet that pig
if you don’t already know her)
and Stella is Mercy’s neighbor.

Stella has an assignment to write
A poem using a metaphor.

And as she begins to try and write
the poem about Mercy
it is as if metaphors
become alive to her…
and at the same time
Horace Broom.
A classmate,
becomes more and more
obnoxious.

This fun-filled book
finds Stella in the most
unique and surprising
of situations that leave her
angry,
scared,
brave,
and surprised.
(and everywhere in between.)

Your child will love this story
and will come away with an amazing
understanding of metaphors.

Great reader for K-2nd and
read-aloud book for 4-8.

Have you met Mercy Watson yet?

Can anyone identify?

I loved reading this historical fiction
about New York during this challenging time.

Elka Hansen, who was once a famous teen model,
now is a hostess in the Palm Court Restaurant
in the Biltmore Hotel in New York City.

And amazing lady who cares
well for her younger sister
amid the civil-rights protests
at Columbia University.

She befriends a fellow employ
at the Palm
and student at Columbia, Jacob.
And unexpected romance grows
between the two, but can they
navigate all the obstacles of this
volatile time.

Have you ordered your copy yet?

This day is too big
not to celebrate!

and are teaming up with
A brand new flavor comes
out today to help get
more free books
into the hands of children!

In honor of this big day
we are giving away
a Jeni’s gift card
to a Gathering Around Books
subscriber!

We will announce the winner
in our GAB email at
9:00 am CST tomorrow.

If you’d like to subscribe
just message me.

If you already subscribe
save this post
and tag a friend for
additional entires.

We are tipping out hat
To and !

(And
I ❤️ my shirt!)

Miss Fannie has a lot of hats.
Each one of them
is special.

They remind her of special events
or sweet memories.

One hat-
the beautiful pink straw hat-
is her absolutely her favorite.
She wears it every Easter.

But Miss F***y has a
really hard decision to make.
She’s been asked to donate
one hat to raise money
to fix up her church.

What will she do?

Which hat will she choose?

This dear story
is one of our Easter favorites.

The illustrations are pretty
and the story is one
that may just make you
shed a sweet tear or two
in the end…
I know it does me.
(But then I’m sure you
aren’t surprised.)

Did you know Jan Karon
also wrote children’s books?

Launch week for
this new Date Night Cards
is so exciting!

We are already
here women say
husbands are enjoying
the cards!!

We have had couples
who have been married
34 years
say they have learned
things they never knew
about each other.

We would love to get
these cards into your
mailbox
and your hands.

10 date cards
that include a prayer
(like this one)
and fun questions
for only $14.00!

We are so excited
about this project
we want to challenge you
to get a set for you
and grab a set to share
with another couple
you’d like to see connect
and have fun together!

We are so excited
to share our brand new cards!

Do you want a fun idea
to spice up dates
with your spouse?

These 10 Date Night Cards
are just the thing you need!

Click in the bio
and grab your set today.

They are $14.00
and that is for
10 different date night
topics full of questions
you can ask each other!

Do you enjoy dating
your hubby?

It is just 2 days away!

And we are already
dipping our toes in the water
of spring!

How delightful.

Know that at
Gathering Around Books
we will be sharing
great spring book suggestions
right here
and on our website.

And we will be sharing
great freebies on the
website as well.

Let me know if you’d
like to take advantage
of those gifts.
I would love to send
them to you!

Do you have a favorite
book about spring?

Would you like to know some?

This story is so powerful!

Patrick lived a hard life
but he preserved
in spite of
the hardest of struggles.

But he didn’t just survive
he rose above the obstacles
and made a difference
in the lives of the very ones
who had hurt him.

Is there a book that you
love that inspires kids
to rise above?

You are cordially invited to
your local library.

It is an invitation
just waiting to be
accepted.

It is full of books about
birds,
superheros,
the weather,
basketball,
whales,
other countries
crafts,
voting,
pirates,
rocket ships,
oceans,
courageous kids,
imaginary stories
and ones that really happened.

And they are just
waiting on you
to come and pick them.

Don’t be scared about losing them.
(We are going to share tips
about how to avoid this.)

But there is much more
available
at the library
other than books.

Book ideas are all everywhere.

Scroll through our pics and
check out our IN story share
to see a few of our latest finds.

Great books are invitations more.

This weekend EJP
got to spend time with
dear friends.

I had to share with you
what they did while
they were together.

Melanie had been to the library
and gotten this book
about bird nests.

And inspired by they book
the kids gathered up
things birds would use
for their nests
and they made a bird’s nest
out of a paper plate!

Aren’t these the cutest?

Grab a book about birds
or bird’s nests
or the forest
(the library is full of them)
and step outside
or head to a park
to do a little gathering
to make your own nests
and you have yourself
a jamming good book time.

We finally decided what
we were doing to prepare our
hearts during Lent.

(It took us forever this time.)

For years this Bible
has been a favorite
around our home.

It is written for children
but it makes me cry
and I have been known
to use it in teaching for adults.

So when I found that
Sally Lloyd-Jones came out
with a Lent study
to use with the Bible
we joined her email
and printed out pages.
EJP made the paper chain
so that she could tear off
a chain each day.
(She LOVES these.)

We didn’t start on time
but it was easy to catch up.

I am actually reading it aloud
to start our school day!

It’s going to be
an amazing way
to prepare for Easter!

Have you read this Bible?

As the snow pours
out of the sky and
continues to pile up outside
My drink is a hot Cuban
and I am reading
Saving Amelie
by Cathy Gohlke.

I am dying to know…
What about you?

What drink
and what book?

Elizabeth Jane traced
and colored some of the
gorgeous snowflakes
out of this book.
And she wrote her
favorite Winter poem on
the pages.

(Listen to our story to hear
her favorite poem.)

Interacting with books
Really can be a lot a fun!

Do you have a favorite winter poem?





❄️ ❄⛄ ❄️☃️

Need a fun Valentine’s idea?
How about a surprise book?

At the library this week
they offered a date with a book.

We were inspired by their idea
and we ran with it.

We will be giving away
these 2 books away at
Gathering Around Books
in our very next email!

If you would like to join:

—our book conversations,

—get great book suggestions
for both women and kids,

—receive activities to use
with kid’s books,

—and receive
free giveaways each email

raise your hand up high
in the comments
and let us know.

You’re also welcomed
to send me a private message
if you’d prefer!

Do you enjoy your local library?

We just joined the library
(we just moved.)
They had a winter reading challenge
that Elizabeth Jane joined.

There was one for adults too.
But I didn’t give it much thought.

Well, I should have!
(I am reading anyway.)

When I took Elizabeth
to get her prizes
this past week
she was able to choose
a brand new book
and she received this bag
of goodies-
that included a sonic gift card
that was used pronto.

They were giving away
brand new adult books too.
And there were 3 I have been
wanting to read
on the shelf.

I will be joining all the
reading programs that are to come!

Do you take advantage of the library
and what it has to offer?

Do you want some suggestions
for good Valentine’s Day books?

We have loved these!
And the Peter Rabbit board book
is a littles super-win!
All four of ours had us read
it over and over.
And it has a sweet little voice
at the end that says
“I love you!”

What Valentine’s book
Do your peeps like?

It is snowing here today!
Snow is one of my favorite things
in all the earth!

And in honor of the
beautiful white gift from God
I am sharing some of our
winter favorites.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats
is a book each of my children adored.
I have literally read it over
and over
and over
and over
to each of them.

It is a about a little boy
in his red snowsuit
who goes out to play
in the snow.

We had a board book copy
and a hardback.
Both were huge hits.

But this week we found
A Poem for Peter is a book
by Andera Davis Pinkney.
It is absolutely amazing.

It tells the story of the author
and his story.
He is a Jewish boy who
grows up in America
during the Great Depression,
when art was
little more than a frivolity.

It has touched me so much
I have cried several times.
(I know you aren’t surprised.)

It has quickly been moved up
to one of my favorite children’s books.
I will be going to McKay’s to try
and find my own copy.

If you don’t have these books
and you have children
or grandchildren
run to the store
(or open your laptop)
and grab your copies today.
Please let me know what you think!

And stay tuned on our stories
as we share what we are doing
for winter fun project!

Have you read these yet?

This is our newest edition
in our new home!

A shelf to decorate!

I am full of ideas
for all of the fun book
suggestions/ideas we are going
to share with you from
this gorgeous space.

I can’t wait for you to see
the process that went
into its hanging.
(Head over to our
story today to see it
and meet my husband!)

Elizabeth Jane decorated
it this very first time
with some great books!

What do you think
about this first try?

I absolutely love how
our Good Dad
can take a fictional kid’s book
and speak straight to
what is going on in my heart.

This book.
The Tale of Despereaux.
has touched my heart
(and Elizabeth Jane’s)
on so many levels!

If you haven’t read it
grab a copy today.

It is truly a powerful book.

What kid’s book
has touched your heart?