Wow!

Don't you love it when you're having a trying day (or week, in my case), and suddenly, when you least expect it, you see something that gives your heart a lift? That happened to me when I stopped by one of my favorite book blogs, Fuzzycricket, to see what she'd been up to. ( I'm nosy that way.)

What did I find but that she'd awarded my blog with the very sweet "I love your blog" award, and said such nice things about my little corner of the bookblogosphere! Thanks, Fuzzycricket!

I really had no idea what to expect when I started writing a book blog. Would anyone even bother to read what I was writing about? Who knew? Mainly I was writing for myself - I find that often the best way to examine how I feel about something is to start writing about it and see where that takes me. Next thing I knew, people were actually leaving comments, and before long I'd discovered a whole new world of people to talk about books with! Not only that, but I discovered that, aside from all the great discussions and book recommendations, I have become a better reader, more critical and more aware. I also have a much better recollection of the books I read - before blogging, I'd move onto the next one, and the next, and wouldn't stop to reflect as much on what I was reading.

Now that I've been given the award, I'm supposed to do the following:

1. Add the logo of your award to your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

There are so many blogs out there I'd give this award to! Many of them, it appears, have already received it (as well they should!) My nominations for the award go to:

Nicola at Back to Books - I love to stop by and get all kinds of great recommendations on books, particularly good read-alouds for my children, who seem to enjoy the same kinds of books as her son. I always add something to my list when I visit Nicola!

Valentina at Valentina's Room - I've been reading her blog for almost as long as I've been blogging, and I've gotten all kinds of great recommendations from her, particularly things I might not have bothered reading had I not read her insightful reviews.

The Reader Rabbit sisters - first of all, they crack me up. Secondly, they are sisters, blogging about books, and I think they are both in high school. How amazingly cool is that? Third, they write great reviews that make me go running out for the books.

Ms. Yingling Reads - Ms. Yingling is a middle school librarian who tries to read everything she buys for the library - plus every hardcover fiction book that's there. I like her attitude! She writes lots of great short reviews that help me stay aware of all the great things that are out there that I haven't gotten around to reading yet.

The Book Smugglers - I love the way they review books together, in a conversational format - especially when they don't agree with each other! They are smart and funny and are always adding books to my TBR list.

Ladytink at The Movieholic and Bibliophile's Blog - hers is another blog I've been reading since the very beginning of my blogging "career," and not only does she add piles of books to my list, but she also does very fun movie reviews, with all kinds of images and links. Plus she leaves sparkly pixie-dust comments all over my blog, and who doesn't love that?

And last but definitely not least, Rhinoa at Rhinoa's Ramblings - we see eye to eye on just about every book we've both read, and she adds so many great books to my reading list. Plus she clearly likes Zelda (one of my current obsessions) and is great fun to talk books with.

I tried to poke through everyone's blogs to make sure you aren't getting double awards (not that you don't deserve it!). There are so many other blogs out there that I also heart - I could go on and on, but it's late, and I'm off to bed!