Thursday, September 19, 2013

Feature and Follow Friday #167

Welcome to the Feature & Follow


Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.



How To Become a Featured Blog?

We pick our featured blogs randomly each week from the blogs who participated the week before.

Please be sure to feature your e-mail address clearly on your blog. Either on the main blog, on a Contact page, or on an About Me page. If I can't find your email easily, I will choose a different blog to feature.

Our Feature - Fantasy is More Fun

1. When did you start blogging?

I actually just started July 9th of this year.

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

All the people I've met and new books I've discovered. I'm addicted to blogging - the first month I don't think I slept more than 3 hours a night just trying to absorb everything! It's so great to have people to share my love of books with finally :-)

3. What type of books do you mainly blog about?

I'm especially drawn to paranormal/fantasy books (because Fantasy is More Fun!) but lately I've been branching out into historical and contemporary romances as well. I love every age group - Middle Grade, YA, NA, Adult, Erotica. Age is just a number after all!

4. What are your favorite books?

My all time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I've read it at least 15 times, possibly more. It was the favorite book of a loved one (who was just like Jane) who passed away when I was younger and it's felt like my connection to her all these years later. I have lots of other loves - shout out to the Harry Potter Series - but I'd need a good page to list all of them them!

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

Making so many new friends. I recently reached out to another blogger to see if she would co-host something with me and now we're emailing and texting all the time and it's just amazing that I've formed this friendship over a shared love of reading. And that's just one example out of many! I feel like I've been part of the community for years, not a few short months- everyone has been so welcoming!


Q: What were some of your favorite picture books as a kid? If you have kids, what are your favorites to read to them?


So many! Let's see - I loved Clifford, Spot, and Berenstain Bears. 

I believe this was my first Berenstain Bears book



I loved the Angelina Ballerina books.


The Pokey Little Puppy



On the unusual side...One of my favorites was a book called The Mountain the Loved a Bird by Alice McLerran. She also wrote a book called Roxaboxen that was set in Yuma, Arizona where I lived as a kid (Any of you heard of Yuma? It's not the nicest little city in the world. We were thrilled to move to Phoenix after four years)


Books that I've recently bought for nieces and nephews include




And of course Willems' Knuffle Bunny books are fabulous


Now for the Follow Fun!

With GFC going the way of the dodo bird for many bloggers, there is no better time to start following blogs via RSS feed. If you use a reader, it would be great if you followed my RSS directly.



We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

Alison Can Read Feature & Follow

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
  1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
  2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
  3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
  4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
  5. If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
  6. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
  7. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
  8. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!


Next Week's Question:

Reading Nook Tour: Give us a tour of your favorite reading spots.

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If you have CAPTCHA word verification enabled on your blog, please take it off. It makes it much more difficult for readers to comment. Please look at my CAPTCHA Eradication Post to learn how to get rid of it.



45 comments:

  1. Oh my. You picked so many. I forgot all about the Spot books. They were definitely one of my kids favorites too.

    Marilyn @ Marilyn's Mystery Blog

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  2. I completely forgot about the Berenstain bears!! I'm gonna have to buy me some of those now!

    Amber @Paradise of Pages

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  3. I really liked Clifford and the Berenstain Bears too! I forgot all about them :)

    Traci @ Mad Hatter Reads

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  4. I remember Berenstain Bears. I feel the need to read Creepy Carrots!

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  5. Oh I forgot all about Angelina Ballerina! That was probably my second favorite after the Berenstain Bears.

    Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun

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  6. The Berenstein Bears made my list too! So great! :D Awesome list!

    My FF

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  7. The Poky Little Puppy made my list too! And I'd forgotten about Spot...my oldest daughter loved Spot. And my younger daughter was a huge fan of Clifford! Happy Friday, Alison!

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  8. Oh Man! I only picked one book... I should've pick a whole bunch more!!!

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  9. Berenstain Bears were my favorites too! I was seriously obsessed with that series and wished I was one of Mama and Papa bears kids.

    My #FF

    Debbie @ Keep Calm & Read Romance

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  10. I'm new to Feature & Follow Friday!

    Out of the ones you mentioned, I've only read Clifford, The Berenstain Bears (which I loved!), and The Poky Little Puppy (which has great memories... my grandma used to read it to me).

    My FF

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  11. I remember liking The Berenstain Bears when I was little :) My Feature Follow

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  12. I didnt have many books when i was young so i put some books that i read grade 3 and up that were more like chapter books. I loved watching the Bernstain bears tv show.

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  13. I loved the Berenstain Bears. I didn't know which one to pick, and then just forgot to add them at all.

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  14. Gosh, this is a hard question to answer when I was NOT a reader as a child lol. But really fun and nostalgic! Great question! And I recognize clifford (watched the show) and the berenstain bears!
    Follow Friday

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  15. I don't remember everything in my childhood what I read :( Maybe I read or watched those too.But maybe I don't remember those books because not my fav :)

    Here's my FF --> http://bookerlikeahooker.blogspot.com/2013/09/feature-and-follow-6.html

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  16. Oh those are some good ones! I remember some of those. =) I picked the Berenstain Bears!

    -Amanda P


    Where the Night Kind Roam

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  17. Oh I loved the Berenstain Bears too! I they they are a must read for every kid of every generation!

    Donna @ A Happy Booker

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  18. Lots of good choices!! My kids have that Spot book!!

    Here's My FF!
    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
    Old Follower :)

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  19. Great choices! I completely forgot about Clifford!

    My FF :)


    Jackie @Jackie's Book World

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  20. I can't remember reading Spot goes to the farm but it triggered memories - See Spot run. Run, Spot, run. That phrase has somehow been embedded in my brain. I'm an 80's child so nearly all my options are from that decade. Here’s my F&F
    Vilia @ Backchatting Books

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  21. Yay Berenstain Bears!! I had a TON of those books when I was little!

    Here's my Follow Friday

    Have a GREAT weekend!

    Old Follower :)

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  22. A local children's theater group in San Antonio did a play based on 'Roxaboxen'. It was by far one of the best plays they ever did, and my son loved it. Thanks for stopping by my FF

    Kimber Leigh @ Kimber Leigh Writes

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  23. I remember Pokey Little Puppy and Too Much TV. My parents used to give me all the Berenstain Bears that pertained to me... Messy Room and Too Much TV and Stage Fright I remember the most.

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    1. Stage Fright was the first one I read and owned! :D

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  24. Happy Friday!!

    Here is my FF http://between-my-lines.blogspot.gr/2013/09/feature-and-follow-25-childrens-books.html

    Hope to hear from you someday.

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  25. LOL, The Poky Little Puppy totally brings back memories!! They are all great choices ;)

    Meredith
    Meredith’s Musings

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  26. Awesome picks. I remember some of these only barely. Happy Friday :)

    http://www.itchingforbooks.com/2013/09/feature-and-follow-65.html

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  27. Hey Alison! Happy Friday. I remember some of these picture books. I also like reading the Bearstein bears or something like that. Have a great weekend:)

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  28. OMG. I haven't heard about any of these books, Ali. But all the book covers looked so cute that I think my younger self would love. :D

    Thanks for stopping by my FF!

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  29. Just joined Feature and Follow! Great idea. I have so many favourites as a child, including Aesop's Fables! :)

    Charl
    www.aplaceonthebookshelf.blogspot.com

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  30. Your picks are excellent! I chose the first Berenstain Bear book I read, too!! The Poky Little Puppy - love that book still. And Clifford. My daughter and I have always loved Eric Carle books, too. We have quite a few. We love the one where the hermit crab finds a new shell and adds decorations to his new home. :)

    My FF @ Donnie Darko Girl

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  31. Creepy carrots looks awesome I will have to check that out for my son. I also see you liked the Berenstain Bears too. They were my favorite when I was a kid.

    Loved the post. Just stopping by to say hi, I'm an old follower.

    My FF

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  32. I remember Spot. We had that books for years - I think it entertained all my siblings at one stage or another :)
    Old follower.

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  33. Hopping back! Firstly, thank you for having me as a feature. It was fabulous waking up to an awesome e-mail. :)

    Goldilocks. So many wonderful books we read as kids.

    Happy Friday!

    SSBF Blog

    Here’s my FF

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  34. I just joined the blog hop :) I really like the question, brought back memories. Have a nice day.

    My FF.

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  35. Following you! http://andreareadsandreviews.blogspot.com/

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  36. Haven't ever heard of most of those lol.

    Hopping by!

    Nyx @ Unraveling Words

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  37. All her reads are awesome!!!

    Guinevere & Libertad @ Twinja Book Reviews

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  38. How could I have forgotten about Spot? Definitely another favorite, thanks for the reminder!

    Hope you're having a great weekend!

    Leah @ Yummy Reads

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  39. "Creepy Carrots" & Mo Willems are excellent choices! Way to be a fantastic gift giver! The "Knuffle Bunny" books are so funny, and real, and heartfelt. I read all three of them in succession for a Story Time last spring (I work in a Children's Library) and I almost CRIED in front of about 20 kids and their parents. I legitimately got teary-eyed and choked up & had to mentally tell myself to hold it together. She becomes such a little grown-up! And I love that you get to follow her all the way from "Aggle Flaggle Kablabble" & going boneless, to preschool, to when she's a mom with a child of her own. That's storytelling at its finest.

    Here's my FF, if you're interested!:
    http://thepookapicks.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/feature-follow-friday-9/

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  40. Clifford.... How could I have forgotten about Clifford?
    *covers face in shame*

    Ginny @ My Urban Fantasies
    :)

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  41. I'm a newbie when it comes to blogging, but I wanted to say a thank you for explaining how the Feature Friday posts work... I am hoping to learn how to do one in the future :)

    XO
    Sarah/Vanessa @ http://theultimatebookworm23.blogspot.ca/

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  42. My little brother was obsessed with Spot. He had the VHS tapes that were like cartoon renderings of the books and everything! :) Thanks for stopping by my FF.

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  43. I remember loving Roxaboxen! I used to think ti was so cool, and made me wish I had a big group of friends to organize an imaginary city with. I've actually been remembering the story lately, and trying to think of the title and author lately but couldn't, so thanks for the reminder!

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