January 17, 2011

Blue Monday? Bah! Humbug! Play the Write Contest!

When I was in school, back in the 1900s, I liked English (surprise, surprise!)

Math, not so much.  I mean, seriously, what are you supposed to do with this?



Well, since you asked, that is the formula for calculating the most depressing day of the year, whereby Sky Travel hoped to book a lot of vacations.

Taking into account the weather, debt, time since the holidays, failure of New Year's resolutions, motivational level, the need to take action, and the fact that it's Monday, the formula doesn't actually work and is completely meaningless in mathematical terms.  And yet it still allows us to know that today, January 17, 2011, is the Most Depressing Day of this Year.  See how useful math is(n't)?

Even though it's totally bogus, it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Now that people know which day they're supposed to be most depressed, they follow along like sheep.

But here's what I think.  Bah!  Humbug!  I don't want you to be depressed!  It's a beautiful day (even though it's zero!) and I have something to cheer you up!  A game!  With a prize!

Below is a list of (I think pretty) well-known picture books and their authors.  The trick is, all you get is initials.  For example:  CW by EBW (which would, of course, be Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - yes, I realize that's not a picture book, I'm just giving you an example - I don't want to give away the farm!)

Get it?

So figure them all out and list them in the comments (and no cheating! - we're on the honor system here!  Keep your eyes on your own paper because other people might be wrong, and if you copy you will not have the satisfaction of a job well done and you will feel guilty should you win!)

If you get them all, you will be eligible to win a free signed copy of whichever of my books you want (although if you choose April Fool, Phyllis you'll have to wait a bit because I don't have any yet :))  This is assuming anyone plays and that at least one person gets all the answers.

Since I realize not everyone reads all blogs every day, you have until midnight Wednesday January 19 to get your answers in.  You may ask for an extension if need be.  Since I am in charge, and exceptionally nice, I might consider it. And I'll give you one hint:  these are all traditional picture books - not novelty books or early readers -  and they are all personal favorites (and that was actually two hints!)

So, you're not depressed anymore, are you?  You're energized, motivated, and gung-ho to beat everyone else to the finish line!

Good luck everyone!  Ready, set, GO!

1.  CG by HAR
2.  BAJFF by RH
3.  L,L,C by BW
4.  WTWTA by MS
5.  OBAG by PR
6.  M by LB
7.  FNATPP by JO'C
8.  MWFD by RM
9.  PP by SLH
10.  MMAHSS by VLB
11.  HTDD by GZ
12.  AATT,H,NG,VBD by JV
13.  TPE by CVA
14.  TVHC by EC
15.  TRF by MP
16.  TSOF by ML
17.  LPPP by KH

(P.S.  It's nearly 10:30 - time for The Writer's Club - so grab your coffee and come on over and say what's on your mind this morning!  I'm thinking about PLOT - and how hard it is!)

9 comments:

  1. man u are really making me think here!!!
    ok..so i can come up with a few..

    4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Serdank
    6. Madeline
    8.Make Way for Ducklings
    9. Peter Pan ??
    12. Alexander and the Terrible, horrible No good very bad day
    14. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're doing awesomely Jessie! All right so far except for 9, which I am VERY disappointed in :) Keep going! You can do it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. Curious George by H.A. Rey
    2. Bread and Jam for Francis by Russel Hoban
    3. ???
    4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Serdank
    5. ???
    6. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
    7. Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by Jane O'Connor
    8. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
    9. Punxsutawney Phyllis by Susanna Leonard Hill (ahem)
    10. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
    11. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
    12. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
    13. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
    14. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
    15. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
    16. ???
    17. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

    All but three gahhhh!! it's gonna kill me when i find those 3 out...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Okay, I think I got all but one! : )

    1. Curious George by H. A. Rey
    2. Bread and Jam for Francis by Russell Hoban
    3. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber
    4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
    5. ??
    6. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelman
    7. Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by Jane O'Connor
    8. Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
    9. Punksatony Phyllis by Susanna Leonard Hill!
    10. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Burton
    11. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
    12. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
    13. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
    14. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
    15. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
    16. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
    17. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you, SLH for energizing me! I love Children's picture books! This took a while, but was lots more fun than suduko or a cross word puzzle.
    1. Curious George H.A. Rey
    2. Bread and Jam for Frances Russell Hoban
    3. Lyle Lyle Crocodile Bernard Waber
    4. Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak
    5. Officer Buckle and Gloria Peggy Rathmann
    6. Madeline Ludwig Bemelmans
    7. Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy Jane O'Conner
    8. Make Way for Ducklings Robert McCloskey
    9. Punxsutawney Phyllis Susanna Leonard Hill
    10. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Virginia L. Burton
    11. Harry the Dirty Dog Gene Zion
    12. Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day Judith Viorst
    13. The Polar Express Chris Van Allsburg
    14. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle
    15. The Rainbow Fish Marcus Pfister
    16. The Story of Ferdinand Munro Leaf
    17. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse Kevin Henkes
    Personally my favorite is WITGS by MF, mostly because I have a signed copy that she wrote: To Jenny and Her little lambs, love MF. My mom met her and had her sign it for me. I LOVE children's books! Now I am going to go read a little! Jenny Anderson

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1. Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey
    2. Bread and Jam For Frances by Russell Hoben
    3. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Bernard Waber
    4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
    5. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
    6. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
    7. Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by Jane O'Connor
    8. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
    9. Punxsutawney Phyllis by Susanna Leonard Hill
    10. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
    11. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
    12. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
    13. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
    14. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
    15. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
    16. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
    17. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

    Teri

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cute contest Susanna, you are doing a great job with your blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awesome job, everyone! The winner will be announced today!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, and Jenny - Where Is The Green Sheep by Mem Fox?

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you and try to respond to every comment. Please share your thoughts!