Laurel Snyder

Today’s “Very Best Book” comes to us from none other than Wil Wheaton, best known for his portrayal of Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Will is such a sweet smart guy, and a reader.  He says:

When I was in second grade, I loved Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It was just absurd and wonderful. I especially loved the ending, because I wasn’t entirely sure if grandpa made the whole thing up, or if Chewandswallow was a real place.

When I got a little older, I read and re-read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing too many times to count. Finally, there was a book that treated me like the mature, grown-up 4th grader I knew I was.

What’s *your* favorite book from childhood?

Come roast me up, and win a free signed copy of Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains!

For those of you who don’t think my home movies are totally engrossing, here’s a more professional book trailer for Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains.

Showcasing the amazing art (that didn’t make it into the ARC) by Greg Call, not to mention a gorgous version of “Wild Mountain Thyme” sung by the sweet-voiced Lucy Wainwright Roche (THANKS, LUCY!)

I’ve begun asking interesting people to tell me what they remember as their favorite book from childhood, and as the answers roll in, I’ll share them with YOU!

Today,the very dapper Daniel Pinkwater tell us:

SHIPS AND HOW THEY SAILED THE SEVEN SEAS, by Willem Hendrik Van Loon was one of my favorite books when I was little, and upon reflection probably my most favorite one.

I have to confess I don’t know this book, but when I went to find it, I discovered it’s not easy to get, since it appears to be out of print. Ironic, since Mr. Pinkwater himself may be the least out of print person on the planet. Not to mention that anytime he reads a book on the radio, it becomes a bestseller!  Maybe he’ll share a little Van Loon with us, one of these days…

What’s YOUR very best  book from childhood?

YA Novelist and all around fabulous lady, Daphne Grab, interviews me over at the Longstockings today!

Please stop by and discover my secret guilty pleasure!

Amy (who is just about the hottest, smartest, Jewish-est writer I know) helps me ask the citizens of blogistan:  What was your favorite book as a kid?

In answering the question herself, she confesses a deep and abiding love for Dorrie the Little Witch!

But what was YOUR favorite book as a kid?  Blog it up, people!

It’s feeling a little weird that so much of the blog content right now is promotional junk about my own book…

So I want to take a  second to say that of course my life is still my insane life– the boys and I went to Charleston on Wednesday, and found it lovely and dramatically wind-swept. There were “little boats” and “BIG WATER” (says Mose) and we all slept in one giant hotel bed and I did not get a lot of rest.

Yes, I promise I have not gotten so book-obsessed I’ve forgotten to feed my kids, or read other people’s books, or eat tacos on a daily basis.  I read and loved the Willoughbys, and I read and didn’t love Peeled nearly as much.  Also,  7 Imp’s Yolen interview rocked my world, and  I’m currently obsessed with Fictionaut. The stuff of life.

But all that aside, for a little while it mostly *is*  ALL ABOUT MY BOOK, because Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains comes out on Tuesday!

YIKES!

To that end, I’ll be up all week at the Class of 2k8, embarassing myself with stories about elementary school and the like. And I’d really really appreciate if you could pop on over, or  maybe even link to anything you find interesting.

And I’ll also be BLOG-TOURING– visiting blogs around the web all week long. PLEASE STOP BY!

Today I’ll be lolling about with Amy Guth.
Monday I’ll be hanging  with the fabulous Longstockings.
Tuesday I’ll be getting Roasted!
Wednesday I’ll be drinking a beer with Baby Got Books.
Thursday, Laini Taylor is dying my hair.
Friday I’m chatting nonstop with Lizzie Skurnick.

And next week? Well, you’ll have to wait until NEXT WEEK to find out about all of that.

And eventually, I’ll get back to pictures of babies and general ranting.

So, on Tuesday (which is the BIG DAY)  I’ll be online all day at Book Roast, chatting with folks and making a general fool of myself (no surprise there I guess).  And I would beg you stop by for a number of reasons.

1. I’m scared nobody will come, and I’ll look silly.
2. I’m nervous about the book  and could use your love, generally.
3. Book Roast is awesome fun and you should check it out.
4. You could win a free book.
5. It benefits Reach Out and Read!!!

Pretty please, won’t you stop by, and maybe even help me spread the word?

And you might think that’s because I have a book coming out in one short week!!!

But it’s not that– just the crazy-quilt that is my life.  Houseguests and meetings of one kind or another, and now I’m suddenly hitting the road (with the boys) for a few days, to drive to Charleston and see my brother (and the Atlantic Ocean). Just the three of us, the open road, my laptop, and a whole lot of juiceboxes, goldfish crackers, smooshed pb&js, and untold baggies of warm grapes.

Not exactly relaxing , but the city of Charleston is–if the above picture is to be believed– the exact  opposite of hectic…

See you in a week, when I’ll be FREAKING OUT!

If you don’t know Darcy Pattison’s Revision Notes, you should!!!!  I’m up there today, rambling like I do…

The brilliant Kate Messner (one to watch!!!) gives me a shout out!

And the Soft Skull Blog breaks with tradition and goes cutesie-poo with a peek at my book trailer!

Thanks so much, everyone!