How could I forget that today starts #marchinmarch? @Merethebookgal & @TheNextBook, I am so embarrassed! I'm always ready to talk more on this book. Quick happy story from earlier today: I have the books in my classroom & my students are reading up on the Civil Rights Movement before reading "To Kill a Mockingbird." Student sees a photo of John Lewis while reading. "Is this THE John Lewis?" "Yes, but he had a little more hair back then." ?✊?

Give a warm welcome & a fuzzy follow to these two new cool af littens!

March meeting for the Girls in Capes' hosted book club at Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse this evening where we discussed "March: Book One" this month. Wonderful conversation & examination of the first part of a trilogy that is even more important now than ever. And...I met two awesome people that are now brand new #Philly Littens! Give a huge welcome to @SentientCanvas & @philawriter !

"Everyone wants a piece of The Bitch." Another wtf?! book spotting. We didn't buy this one, but got a good laugh. @BookishFeminist , I thought you'd get a kick out of this one. #litsycarnaval Post 10/10

"For centuries in the Orient, love has been an art. So has death." What..the fuq...did we stumble upon here? First of all #overit & people still using the word "oriental" & exoticizing Asians. But what is with this cover? ? #ninjahubby & I couldn't stop laughing, which is what sold it for us. Gonna laugh over this "erotic thriller" so hard. #bookhaul #litsycarnaval Post 9/10

#bookhaul #litsycarnaval #ninjahubby left the sale with some goodies too, including this bundle of D&D campaign materials and ideas. There were some there even came with completed character sheets in case you're just that unimaginative. Post 8/10

#bookhaul #litsycarnaval I almost didn't buy this, but then #ninjahubby encouraged/enabled me. It's only Vol. 1 of a 12 volume set, but it's so tiny & the copyright is 1885! Post 7/10

#bookhaul #litsycarnaval This book is so so so pretty!!! 😍 I already have a huge book of Russian fairy tales - I've always been so intrigued by these stories - & I couldn't leave this gorgeous & artful book behind when I saw it. Post 6/10

#bookhaul #litsycarnaval Guys, this booklet. 😂 For only 25 cents, it was well worth the price. The dog on the back cover looks like he's wearing an afghan! #knittersoflitsy what do you think? See any new fashions for Bianca (up left & up right)? Poor girl is going to hate me. #dogsoflitsy #petsoflitsy Post 5/10.

#bookhaul #litsycarnaval Some books for me! "Brothers" looks like an intriguing story to me & "The Tiger in the Attic" is about those in the Kindertransport, a part of WWII history I'd like to know more about. More on the other books in a sec. Post 4/10

#bookhaul #litsycarnaval Got some stuff for the kiddos! Post 3/10

I nearly cried when I found this book. It is one of my favorites. The copy of "A Christmas Carol" was another treasure since my sister loves this illustrator. Plus, it's signed! Sis also likes art, so Degas, & the expecting mom & dad are all about climbing mtns. Oh, & seeing "Heidi" in her grandbaby's nursery will make Grandma very happy. #litsycarnaval Post 2/10

Here is our #bookhaul from the county library book sale today to celebrate #litsycarnaval & my sil' s bday. Boy did we find some interesting, heartwarming, & hilarious things! More to come. Post 1/10ish?

#bookhaul y'all! Had a bad afternoon yesterday, so I self-soothed w/ my county library.? Little did I know, it's #litsycarnaval! Going back tomorrow for the book sale to find books that need a good home, mine. ? Thanks to @MrBook for the rec on "Crown of Blood" since I just finished "My Lady Jane" for #fya & want to follow up historical fiction w/ a bit more history. Can everyone tell I just discovered stickers...?

That moment when you settle in with the #fya pick for Feb & read this paragraph & are immediately here👏for👏it👏.

"There are many Beths in the world, shy & quiet, sitting in corners till needed, & living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, & the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind." Many Elizabeths in literature, but Beth is my #samename #riotgrams. This quote struck my core, back when I did not yet know that quiet & powerful are not mutually exclusive.

#Philly Littens! 2/1 6pm Girls in Capes host a book club discussion on Kindred at Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse. I read this for @LitsyFeministBookClub & am ready to talk more & get my hands on the graphic novel. ICYMI Amalgam is a haven of intersectional geekery. Ariell Johnson is an ass-kicking hero in her own right, so it's no wonder the shop snagged its own Iron Man variant cover! She's on the right. I'd love to see you here, #Philly Littens!

Holy Feminist Hero, Batgirl! At my local NOW chapter meeting tonight, we watched a short film on Inez Milholland, entitled "Inez Milholland: Forward Into Light." ?Sobbing with inspiration. @LitsyFeministBookClub , can we shine a light on her? Anyone have any good book recs for me to find out more on her story?

I can't believe this book is 50 years old! My co-teacher came back from break with this beauty & I am even more excited to teach this to my 7th graders this year since we'll get to share the awesome goodies in this edition with them! It's got Hinton's correspondence in the publishing of the book, movie stills, media coverage, & photos from the author's personal collection. Like the Greasers say, it is "super tuff" ? #staygold #teachersoflitsy

A fabulously mediocre attempt at #bookface 😣😂

Guys guys guys! 2016 was the first year I ever set a reading goal for myself. I am a slow reader; I like to amble & meander through the worlds of the books I'm reading. I thought 52 books would be a reasonable goal. But, when I finish this book between today & tomorrow, I'll have read 70!!!!

Like many, I was crushed to hear our general & princess has gone on to become one with the Force. Then, last night at my #fyabc holiday book exchange, I got this book! I'm having a cramptastic day but I'm spending it zooming through this read as a way to remember my favorite galactic badass.

Another student gift brag: a box of tea as big as me that's shaped like a book! I'll have so many #hotdrinkandbook posts soon, I'm sure, but I didn't know there was such a thing as hot drink IN a book. 😅😆😀📚🍵

😍 I love my students everyday & appreciate anything they give at the holidays, but this one student gift wowed me today. This student has been telling me since the start of the year that they were going to give me a book about Philly that a family member wrote. I didn't pay much mind past being happy at their thoughtfulness. FFwd to today & the book is a gift & holy cats, IT. IS. GORGEOUS. & signed! I'm floored by this family's generosity.

I know it's Dec. & the holidays are where it's at, but I just read this line from my @SerialReader issue of the day & couldn't agree more.

My #secretsantagoespostal #wintersolsticebookswap gifts are already making a home for themselves in my home. The knit goods are cozying up to yarn I left on the family room coffee table, tea is in the tea cabinet (Yes, a whole cabinet for hot drinks), Harry Potter jumped into my school bag after a stop on my shelf, & "Android Karenina" is making friends with "Jane Slayre," "Little Women & Werewolves," P&P&Zombies & S&S&Seamonsters.

Talk about a #secretsantagoespostal who knows me! Thank you @Melli ! I'm going to take a couple more photos later to show just how fitting these gifts are for me, but wanted to thank you & let you know that your package made my day. I did stay up last night but was cranky for it & decided to open it today. Then, I couldn't decide on opening it before or after work. I unwrapped all my goodies this morning & it's put a smile on my face all day!

Guess what's finally going in the mail today? I probably would have sent it out earlier, but I kept looking in the box, seeing more space, & adding one more thing. #secretsantagoespostal #wintersolsticebookswap

When I find myself in times of trouble, Anne of Green Gables comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, make up your mind, firmly!

Confession time, Littens. I got my #secretsantagoespostal/wintersolsticebookexchange a bit ago, but was too ashamed to post. ? When I saw the package at my door, I thought it was what I bought for my Secret Santa & ripped into it. When I saw the shiny wrapping paper inside, my immediate thought was "Oh no! I opened it before the 21st!!!Nonononobad!" Nothing spoiled, but the package is safely stowed in the ottoman in my living room until the 21st.

Oh, Anne. I'm quickly falling in love with this book & this adorable little girl.

Thought I'd pair my @SerialReader issue of "Cranford" with a tall, refreshing glass of cool water in one of my favorite glasses when I noticed a crack in it. ?? This week is turning into a master class on why I can't have nice things.

BAD GIRL, BIANCA! Bad girl! 😭 Not the original paperback I bought long ago at the book fair, but a cherished hardcover copy nonetheless. #ninjahubby was sad to hear about it & is on his way home with pizza for comfort. He says we can use what's left for bookish crafts. 💖 Love that Hufflepuff husband of mine who knows how to cheer up his Ravenclaw gal.

Feeling this quote right now.

My new mantra! 😂 #knittersoflitsy

I think we're being just a little prejudiced, Marilla. Slow down, girl.

OMG, @thealidoyle , look what you've started! I'm barely a page in & it mentions that Miss Rachel is known for having knit sixteen "cotton warp quilts" & BAM!!! I'm looking up articles & patterns for something that was knit over a CENTURY ago! @becausetrains , history moment here, since we've chatted about historic knits before.

#knittersoflitsy, #craftersoflitsy, has anyone tried to make one of these before? Results? Thoughts?

Why did I wait so long to download #serialreader??? I kept seeing posts on it & I am so stoked to try it. Merry early Bookmas to me! I'm starting with a #classicihaventread that almost shattered my long friendship with @thealidoyle . So, I'm fixing the fact that I somehow tragically missed out on Anne's adventures as a kid. Here goes!

Shot of the typical state of my #teachersoflitsy desk: books, papers, half-eaten food, etc. Teaching this, finished a smidge past #nonfictionnov. Def a rec for the #overthis list if it's still accepting titles. Eye-opening yet empowering look at how in the US we have a monstrous trash problem, but it's a monster that every everyday person can conquer if we take a close look at our own trash creating habits & say no to the disposable economy.

Hey, Littens. I need a little advice & reading support. I've been reading "Stiff" for #nonfictionnov, but have recently felt rather conflicted about it right now because of life atm. It is a great book. But, a couple days ago, #ninjahubby's grandma passed. I want to read & then once I get a few pages in, I get uneasy & put it down. Have you ever been there, where you want to read a book but you're not in the right place to read it right then?

I'm a curious person. Like all journalists, I'm a voyeur. I write about what I find fascinating. I used to write about travel. I traveled to escape the known and the ordinary. The longer I did this, the farther afield I had to go. By the time I found myself in Antarctica for the third time, I began to search closer at hand. I began to look for the foreign lands between the cracks.

Being dead is absurd. It's the silliest situation you'll find yourself in. Your limbs are floppy and uncooperative. Your mouth hangs open. Being dead is unsightly and stinky and embarrassing, and there's not a dam thing to be done about it.

Not that there's anything wrong with just lying around on your back. In its way, rotting is interesting too, as we will see. It's just that there are other ways to spend your time as a cadaver. Get involved with science. Be an art exhibit. Become part of a tree. Some options for you to think about.
Death. It doesn't have to be boring.

That moment when you're on that #gradinggrind since grades are due tomorrow & you're one of the #teachersoflitsy but you then go to check out the @LitsyFeministBookClub pick for next month & end up making friends with the librarian over a conversation on crafting & your multi-racial families, since she's noticed you bringing #ninjahubby around. 😂 💞 Love my town & my LIBRARY!!!

Dark pic, but whatev. #ninjahubby is reading an interesting fanfic called "Blindness" that reimagines HP' s story if he did not have sight. Intriguing stuff. #photoadaynov16 #disabilities

Spent the day eating anything BUT paleo, which my MIL has started. Today was wine, pizza, mac and cheese egg rolls, empanadas, chimney cakes, pierogies, hot cocoa, fried Oreos, and apple fritters. #ninjahubby's mommy had a great time. Yay! A wonderful time with friends and family.

So I couldn't make it to #bookriotlive16 but that's because I'm celebrating my MIL's birthday at a food trucks & fire pits festival today! I'm holding down the fort on a blanket I made for my #ninjahubby back when he graduate uni, sampling a chorizo empanada while awaiting hubby's return with kimchi fries. 😍🍟🍷

Found an awesome place to chill tonight & get away from social media while connecting with my town in person. If you find yourself in South Jersey, check out Abandoned Luncheonette. Run by a rock & roll local family, this place calls itself a "nosh & shop" spot, as part record shop/part cafe/part 2nd hand vintage store. I picked up this pocket Dickinson, drank tea, & chatted with the owners until closing. This place is good for my soul. ?