Bargain Book Bonanza (10): School Library Discard Edition!

 Welcome to Bargain Book Bonanza!

A book haul linky party for bargain loving bookworms!

BBB is the place to showcase all the great books (new, used, vintage, electronic, audio) that you have scored on sale.

Each Monday through Thursday, all book lovers are invited to carouse, make merry and revel with bargain book abandon!

Want to join the party? Just visit the Bargain Book Bonanza page for the particulars.

Lesa is hosting this week!


 Squee! Hold on to your hats, bargain lovin' friends, because you will not believe the bountiful bonanza of books that fell into my life last Tuesday!

For free!!

 Yep, free thanks to the lovely generous school librarian, Mrs. K, who said:  Lesa, take any books you want from the discard boxes.  

Ka-ching! Is that like winning a bookworm jackpot or what?!  

That is my box on the left before it was filled plumb full

     I went through the discards with a fine toothed comb, overfilling an entire box with 36 books. And I'm not a bit embarrassed at my bookhoggishness. Nope, I'm a member of the bookhog tribe and proud of it! 

Mrs. K was thrilled for so many books to go to a good home. Like any booklover, it distresses her to dispose of books or to imagine donated books remaining unadopted or trashed.  

So thanks to me, there are now less books for Mrs. K to worry with so I'm not just a bookhog-- I'm a bookish good deed doer!  

But please, no accolades. I'm sure all y'all bookhogs bookworms would've done a good turn for Mrs. K too. 

So what did I choose?

Seven darling vintage picture books. Or would that be retro? No matter, they will be well-loved at my house. And they are all hardbacks in perfect albeit dingy condition with sewn bindings-- Wow! 

The Elephant's Child by Rudard Kipling 1969
The Apple Strudel Soldier by Tom McGowen 1968
Little Pest Pico by Ellis Credle 1969
The Elegant Pelican by Mildred Whatley Wright 1968
The Twin Witches of Fingle Fu by Iri Phillips 1969
The Princess Book stories by multiple authors 1974
The Knight of the Golden Plain by Mollie Hunter 1983

Seven hardback young adult (maybe middle grade?) fiction and memoirs mainly all initially published in the early 1970s-- these are late 70s editions.  A bit scarred on the outside but fine on the inside.

Fiction:
My Sister Mike by Amelia Elizabeth Walden 1979 (first published in 1956)

I Am The Cheese by Robert Cormier 1979

The Meat In The Sandwich by Alice Bach 1979

Bless the Beasts and Children by Gideon Swarthout 1970 

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Green 1979

Memoirs:
Dove by Robin Lee Graham 1978

A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins 1979

Six middle grade/children's hardback books with sewn bindings and in superduper condition.

Maggie's Caravan by Henry R. Fea 1965

The Covered Bridge by Cornelia Meigs 1964 (first published in 1936)

The Mystery of Secret Town by Virginia Nielson 1969

Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright 1957

White Witch of Kynance by Mary Calhoun 1970

Carnival in Paris by Natalie Carlson 1962

Three children's or middle grade hardback books featuring animals. Again, sewn bindings and excellent condition-- except for a torn dustcover.

My Lives and How I Lost Them by Christopher Cat in collaboration with Countee Cullen 1970 (first published 1942)

Rutgers and the Water-Snouts by Barbara Dana 1969

The New Boy by Doreen Tovey 1970 (non-fiction)

Miscellaneous children's books. Two hardbacks  in excellent condition with sewn bindings. One raggedy modern paperback

Sprockets: A Little Robot by Alexander Key 1969 chapter book and too cute!

Dirk Lives in Holland text by Astrid Lindgren-- reprint 1967  nonfiction picture/photo book

Spongebob  picture book 2004

Miscellaneous middle grade and young adult:

The Taylor Street Irregulars by Bill Knotts 1970 (mystery) hardback

Angry Waters by Walt Morey 1969 hardback

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane 1987 paperback edition

Witch House by Evangeline Walton 1979 paperback edition (first published in 1945)

Three hardback nonfiction books:

An Illustrated Outline History of Mankind 1959 edition; two book set

The Boys Life of Abraham Lincoln by Helen Nicolay 1906-- this one featured in a Tuesday Treasure post-- and now it is mine, all mine!!!

Pardon me while I swoon in paroxysms of bookish delight!

Ok, onward with this trek traipse though bookhog heaven... we are nearing the end, I promise.

And now for the piece de resistance: Newbery's!!  Woohoo! Remember my goal to read all the Newbery winner and honor books? 

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien  (1972 Newbery winner) 1971 hardback (Was that a huzzah! from Shredded Cheddar?)

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (1962 Newberry winner) 1978 paperback edition- cover is falling off but I don't care.

Blue Willow by Doris Gates (1942 Newbery Honor) 1976 hardback

Wow! I'm freakin' and buzzin' all over again just going through my big box o'books! 

All new to me books too that I can't wait to read  over the summer!

Well, except for The Red Badge of Courage:  I read that in high school. Not a fave but it deserves a reread with my more mature mind...  someday...  and no snickers from the cheap seats!

Have you read or heard of any of these books?

Please join in the fun!

Don't be intimidated by this awesome, out of this world, bodacious Bargain Book Bonanza! 

 Link up your bargain haul...  large or small...  We love them all!

Tuesday Treasures: The Boy's Life of Abraham Lincoln

 Tuesday Treasures is a recurrent feature in which I share the bookish distractions that catch my eye in the school library I work in on Tuesday. I'm not the librarian; I am the speech pathologist. You will hear no complaints from me about sharing a workspace-- this little old school library collection is chock full of wonderful treasures. Plus, I get to release my inner-librarian. The students who wander in looking for books assume I am the Tuesday Librarian.

Can't believe it has been so long since I've posted a Tuesday Treasures! My only excuse is personal difficulty with the space/time continuum that the school had no heat for over a month and it was too cold  in the cavernous library to think let alone take photos with frozen fingers. (FYI: articulation therapy is not good when the speech path is chattering from the cold; now I have stutters to fix.)

Today, I spotted a very ugly book on the library cart...

See.. isn't it ugly? Poor dingy grey thing. Never one to judge a book by its cover, I took a peek inside and it is an absolute treasure!

Can you believe that books this old are still in the school library?! Makes my little bookish heart go pitter-pat.  The first few pages are a bit worn and torn but the book is in remarkable condition considering how many book reports it has aided over the last century. Don't you wish more hardbacks today had sewn bindings?


Helen Nicolay, the author, was the daughter of Abraham Lincoln's secretary, John G. Nicolay.  You can read more about them here.  Very interesting-- especially the part about Mary Todd Lincoln not trusting Mr. Nicolay. Bet there is a good story there.


Anyhoo, back to Helen:  As a young woman, she took dictation for her father's ten volume biography of Lincoln. Following her father's death, she began writing her own books of history and biography, as well as becoming a recognized artist. This talented lady wrote many books for children to make 'history seem alive and interesting to young people'.  

Helen sure succeeded with this one. It is very engaging and informative and I lost myself in several chapters!

The book is loaded with compelling black and white illustrations. Here are a few...

'He borrowed every book in the neighborhood.'   Gotta love a bookworm!

"He always brought a cheery atmosphere into the dining-room."   Lincoln told great stories and loved to jest. If political dicussions became too hot, he was able to soothe any ruffled feathers. 

I didn't get a photo of Lincoln scything hay/wheat but apparently politicians were expected to prove their muscle and mettle out on the campaign trail. Lincoln won many a vote by helping out farmers or joining a game of quoits.

The house in which Abraham Lincoln was married. I'd like to pop right in this one-- in living color, of course, not black and white.

"The lad took her picture from his pocket and showed it to him." 

This illustration refers to a meeting with soldier William Scott who was sentenced to be shot for falling asleep on his watch within range of enemy fire.  Lincoln heard about the incident and went himself to talk to the young man. After chatting awhile, the president kindly said... 

"My boy, you are not going to be shot to-morrow. I believe you when you tell me that you could not keep awake. I am going to trust you, and send you back to your regiment. Now, I want to know what you intend to pay for all this?" 

The young man had no money but said his family might mortage the family farm or, if the president could wait till payday,  perhaps his comrades would help. The President replied:

"My bill is a great deal more than that, it is a very large one. Your friends cannot pay it, nor your family, nor your farm. There is only one man in the world who can pay it, and his name is William Scott. If from this day he does his duty so that when he comes to die he can truly say 'I have kept the promise I gave the President. I have done my duty as a soldier,' then the debt will be paid."

William Scott fell in battle a few months later and the debt was paid.  Can hardly bear that one, bloggy friends!  You know how battle, honor and glory affect me...  

There are funny little penciled notes scrawled here and there throughout the book but look what I found on the back of one illustration:  notes for a whole book report assignment! Some of it makes no sense.  Number three reads 'His reason in writing this book'... hmm...

Like I mentioned before,  this biography has been well used by a century of students (and still being used). I really really had to fight the urge to swipe it for it's own protection but if it has survived this long...  

If you are interested in The Boy's Life of Abraham Lincoln,  the text is available to read online or for ebook download at Gutenberg.org. 

Tuesday Treasures: Petticoats West To Jane Eyre!

 Tuesday Treasures is a recurrent feature in which I share the bookish distractions that catch my eye in the school library I work in on Tuesday. I'm not the librarian; I am the speech pathologist. You will hear no complaints from me about sharing a workspace-- this little old school library collection is chock full of wonderful treasures. Plus, I get to release my inner-librarian. The students who wander in looking for books assume I am the Tuesday Librarian.



Today's lunch and break pages are brought to you by:

The title on the spine of this 1967 edition caught my eye and what a fun retro cover. I had to read the first chapter. 

The setting is post Civil War Boston and times are very difficult for orphaned girls and widows. Seventeen year old best friends Addie and Sybil run into each other after two years of separation.

Addie never left Boston but illness, losing both parents and becoming poor left her disconnected (self-imposed) from her old life. Running into Sybil makes her realize that hardtimes have affected everyone and there is no shame in shabbiness. 

Sybil and her mother are planning to join a movement led by a charismatic but ugly man to take orphaned girls and widows by ship to the Pacific Northwest. Addie wants to join to but has no hope of raising the $300 fee-- with luck she may get to go as a charity case but, of course, work off her debt.

Quite the engrossing tale and a lot of story for one chapter;  maybe I actually read two chapters... I do lose track of time.

Do you know the author Olive Burt? The most information I found is here in a write up (including photos) by the president of the League of Utah Writers. Olive Burt was a very prolific author who mainly wrote juvenile western historical fiction. Click  here to see a  list of her books.  She was also  a member of  many writing/press societies and won many awards/honors. Interesting lady!

This edition of Jane Eyre is from the 80s. Did book covers typically look like this in the 80s?  I can't remember! 

I do remember last reading Jane Eyre in the late 80s while in my gothic phase.  Really didn't plan to ever reread it but Enbrethiliel at Shredded Cheddar will not stop writing about this book! If you don't believe me, follow the link to her millions of fascinating Jane Eyre  related posts! And on the first day at school, what book just happened to be on the library cart-- yep, Jane Eyre!

So after spotting it again today, I gave in and read the first chapter. Wow! What a great beginning and I didn't remember Jane being a bookworm or being bullied and abused by her relations. Her mean obnoxious cousin throws   a book at her head resulting in a cut! Good on Jane for finally defending herself-- I wanted to clobber him too!!

Guess I will be rereading this book sooner rather than later.

That is it for this edition of Tuesday Treasures. May you also have the joy of discovering a gem of a book. Happy reading, ya'll!

Tuesday Treasures: Back in the School Library!

 Tuesday Treasures is a recurrent feature in which I share the bookish distractions that catch my eye in the school library I work in on Tuesday. I'm not the librarian; I am the speech pathologist. You will hear no complaints from me about sharing a workspace-- this little old school library collection is chock full of wonderful treasures. Plus, I get to release my inner-librarian. The students who wander in looking for books assume I am the Tuesday Librarian.

I've been attempting to share Tuesday Treasure news since school started but was constantly thwarted the whole month of September. Do you know what a drag it is to have to re-upload all your photos and download editing programs ect? Well, that was the least of my troubles but still a major pain. Back in biz now though!

You may remember that last year the school library moved into my smallish classroom due to flooding-- which pleased me tremendously. (the move-in not the flood)  I was so anticipating the return to my cozy library workspace-- but guess what, when I walked into my room there was nary a book-- yep, the library had moved back to its previous location. Even worse, alternative ed was scheduled to be in my room in the mornings.  Did I despair? Nope, like any respectable bookworm, I followed my nose straight to the books and set up shop! 


As soon as I plopped down at the librarian's desk and glanced at this cart, I knew following the library was the right decision.



Just as special as meeting a longlost friend for a cozy chat! I've read seven {Gatsby, Scarlett Letter, GWTW, P&P, Huck Finn, Jane Eyre, Old Man) and two are favorite rereads-- definitely a good sign, don't you think.  How many have you read? If needed, click to enlarge the photos.



My speech therapy table-- I've spotted an amazing vintage series in this corner that makes my little bookish heart go pitter-pat. It will definitely feature in a Tuesday Treasure post.



There was no room for this picture book U in my old classroom. Now the books are shelved properly rather than stacked in piles. Yes, I've already spotted a few treasures here too.



This library is very spacious-- it has three doors and is the size of two very large or three smallish classrooms. So not as cozy as last year-- the librarian and I both miss the coziness but the space is better for the students.

The librarian and I maintain the 'cozy' by chatting through little notes left for each other under the computer keyboard. 

You know, cozy is where you find it and cozy is as cozy does-- yes, yes, it has been one of those nutty days and I'm channeling Madonna and Forest Gump-- so strike a pose and that is all I have to say about that!



Tuesday Treasures: Bookmarks

Tuesday Treasures are the bookish distractions that catch my eye in the school library I work in on Tuesday. I'm not the librarian; I am the speech pathologist.

The library moved into my classroom due to flooding but I'm not complaining. This little old school library collection is chock full of wonderful treasures. Plus, I get to release my inner-librarian. The students who wander in looking for books assume I am the Tuesday Librarian. Can't blame them since my nose is always in a book!

Noticed this handy basket of cute bookmarks on the librarian's desk.

I wondered where she found so many... then realised they were cut from greeting cards. Clever recycling! Have you ever wished for a use for pretty cards... such a shame to just toss them in the trash. From now on, my cards will be cut into bookmarks. The prettiest will be laminated and used as lagniappes .

A few of my faves... the pale pink one has a swirly glitter pattern

Yes, I do like flowers and gardens.

Tuesday Treasures!

Tuesday Treasures are the bookish distractions that catch my eye in the school library I work in on Tuesday. I'm not the librarian; I am the speech pathologist.

The library moved into my classroom due to flooding but I'm not complaining. This little old school library collection is chock full of wonderful treasures. Plus, I get to release my inner-librarian. The students who wander in looking for books assume I am the Tuesday Librarian. Can't blame them since my nose is always in a book!

Today's Tuesday Treasure is inspired by last week's Top Ten Picks hosted by Jillian at Random Ramblings. The category was books you should read at least once. A particular book that I've never read popped up on the lists of several participants. Can you guess which book it was?


I really don't know why I've never read this-- but the situation is about to be remedied. Actually, I read four chapters today and ended up checking it out to myself to bring home. There are only about four Tuesdays left in the school year and I didn't want to be left hanging over the summer. Yes, I could get it at the county library but I love reading books out of this little school library.

Not sure what I think about Holden yet-- so far he seems like a typical underachieving hormonal teen boy-- a bit cranky, a bit goofy, a bit critical. Tons of those sorts around my schools. I'm very interested to see how he develops and what makes this book so memorable.

Hubby has never read The Catcher In The Rye either but has always mentioned wanting to read it. Mainly to glean why some killers attribute premeditated murders to this book. I confess I'm curious about that as well.

Anyway, when hubby came home and saw the book lying on my desk he exclaimed: Did you get this for me? He was so excited that I hated to burst his bubble but I told him 'no'. Then hubby asked very seriously: Did you steal it? I laughed myself silly! Guess he thought The Catcher In The Rye was already leading me to commit criminal acts!

Tuesday Treasures: Alice For Izzy

Tuesday Treasures are the bookish distractions that catch my eye in the school library I work in on Tuesday. I'm not the librarian; I am the speech pathologist.

The library moved into my classroom due to flooding but I'm not complaining. This little old school library collection is chock full of wonderful treasures. Plus, I get to release my inner-librarian. The students who wander in looking for books assume I am the Tuesday Librarian. Can't blame them since my nose is always in a book!

To welcome Izzy as a contributor to Mrs. BG's Cozy Book Nook, here are some photos of the 1960 edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass that I found in the school library. I haven't read Alice in years so I enjoyed glancing through this book.

The forward was very informative regarding the impact of Alice on children's literature and the changing educational system of the day when it was first published. Also, it explained that the illustrator, John Tenniel, was a political cartoonist for Punch magazine. Apparently, the mere fact he was chosen as illustrator subtly let readers of that era in on aspects of political satire in the book.

I realise this is old news to Izzy and all the other Alice aficionados but I thought it was interesting.

Tenniel's illustrations are amazing! How cool that Disney kept the integrity of Tenniel's art in their movie.

Izzy... thank you for blogging along with us. I know you are busy with school so I appreciate that you are willing to include Mrs. BG in your schedule. Feel free to post anytime. Three perspectives are much more interesting than two perspectives!

Tuesday Treasures: The Country Bunny

Tuesday Treasures are the bookish distractions that catch my eye in the school library I work in on Tuesday. I'm not the librarian; I am the speech pathologist.

The library moved into my classroom due to flooding but I'm not complaining. This little old school library collection is chock full of wonderful treasures. Plus, I get to release my inner-librarian. The students who wander in looking for books assume I am the Tuesday Librarian. Can't blame them since my nose is always in a book.

This week, the display of Easter picture books caught my eye. Two were printed in the 60s and the rest were more contempory except for...
this 1938 edition of The Country Bunny And The Little Gold Shoes
by Du Bose Heyward. Are you familiar with this book? It is a classic picture book that I'd never heard of. It is the sweetest little story and surprisingly feminist for 1938.

If you immediately recognised the author Heyward, please excuse my ignorance. When I saw the 'As Told To Jenifer' on the cover, I thought a mother had written a story for her daughter illustrating that girls can achieve their dreams too.

Silly me! Heyward is a man! He wrote the novel Porgy; then the play of the same name; then the musical Porgy and Bess with the Gershwins. The Country Bunny is his only childrens book.
In this story there are always five Easter bunnies appointed by Grandfather Bunny. When an Easter Bunny gets too old to perform his duties, Grandfather chooses a replacement.
Here little Cottontail is mocked for aspiring to be an Easter bunny.

Much to her surprise, she grows up to have twenty-one babies! That would be a surprise, wouldn't it? Octomom has nothing on Mother Cottontail! Aren't the babies cute, though.
Here the male chauvinist bunnies have their say. Mean ol' men bunnies!

Here the little girl and boy Cottontails learn to be responsible bunnies.

Mother Cottontail encourages each child's talent.

The Cottontail family attends the choosing of a new Easter bunny. Grandfather Bunny does not think the big fast men bunnies are wise or kind so he interviews Mother Cottontail. He determines she must be wise because she teaches her children so well and she must be kind because all the little Cottontails are cheerful.

But what a shame that she isn't swift. Mrs. Cottontail whispers to her children who proceed to scatter every which way; she rounds them up lickety split. Grandfather is impressed and after being reassured that the little Cottontails can keep the cottage in order, he appoints Mother Cottontail one of the five Easter Bunnies. A dream come true!

Mother Cottontail does so well that Grandfather Bunny gives her the most important delivery of all. A very special egg to be delivered to a little boy who has been sick for a year without complaining. The house is on the top of a mountain. Near the top of the mountain, she slips and falls all the way to the bottom hurting her leg. Grandfather Bunny appears and gives her magic gold shoes that allow her to fly up the mountain in the nick of time before the boy awakens.

Exhausted, Mrs. Cottontail arrives home to a tidy cottage and sweetly sleeping little bunnies.

The little gold shoes hang in a place of honor!

What a lovely bedtime story for a father to tell his little girl. Heyward died when his daughter was ten. So sad but what a wonderful legacy.

Here is an interesting and informative webpage regarding Du Bose Heyward and how this book, The Country Bunny And The Little Gold Shoes, came to be written and published.

The Country Bunny

Remember you can click on the pictures to get a closer look at the text and the charming illustrations.