
determination!
survival, come snow or ice
rejoice, pretty ones
survival by Angie Quantrell


determination!
survival, come snow or ice
rejoice, pretty ones
survival by Angie Quantrell
by Angie 4 Comments

Winter Cats
Written by Janet Lawler
Illustrated by Ela Smietanka
Albert Whitman & Company, 2019
I won a copy of Winter Cats by Janet Lawler from Writing and Illustrating, a blog by Kathy Temean, Janet Lawler, and Albert Whitman & Company. Thank you! I adore cats (and have one who believes she is queen of both indoor and outdoor realms).
There are so many new and wonderful books being released. I enjoy reading about them on a variety of blogs. Sometimes the blogs have giveaways. If one takes the time to read and comment about the new books, authors, or illustrators, your name is put into a hat. On good days, your name is pulled out. And TA-DA, a shiny new book appears in your mailbox! I love shiny new books in my mailbox.
I encourage you to support authors and illustrators by learning about their work and searching for their books at bookstores and libraries, two of my most favorite places to visit.

Why I love this book:
~ Cats! I love cats. I’ve nearly always had a cat or two in my life. Right now I have a cat who adores her daddy (not me). But that’s a different story.
~ Winter! Winter is a favorite season for me. The snow, the holidays, the expectant hope of new life in spring.
~ The story is told in rhyme. This is a lots of fun to read aloud to young readers.
~ The winter activities are the same ones we enjoy, but in Winter Cats, the cats enjoy them. Too adorable!
~ Indoor versus outdoor cats. I love both. This is a good problem for a main character to have. When our cats were forced to be indoor cats for a short time, there was no joy in our lives. They were monsters! I am glad Willy was able to sneak out and enjoy the outside.
~ I appreciate the nature activities and the characters getting outside. Nature is a very important theme to me.
~ Friendship is a main theme for Winter Cats. Willy makes new friends while he is outside. He invites them home to visit. These friends are responsible and clean up their mess. What great guests!
~ The colorful winter blue illustrations are perfect.
Amazon Blurb:
Willy’s an indoor cat who dreams of becoming an outdoor cat, but his parents tell him that indoor cats and outdoor cats are different. When he sees the outdoor cats having tons of wintery fun, he decides to sneak out and join in! Willy and his new outdoor friends soon learn that labels are meaningless in the face of friendship.
So if you love picture books, winter, cats, or rhyming, be sure to check out Winter Cats.




winter winds blow brisk
dark skies strip warmth, steal hope, joy;
remember summer
hold tight, my dear ones
bundle and cocoon yourself,
summer will return
Haiku and photo by Angie Quantrell


blaze of summer’s last
fling; scarlet burns in sunlight
leaves aflame with light
fire by Angie Quantrell
Photo credit: Angie Quantrell, November 2019, Columbia River State Park, Washington

woods, stream, leaves, and fall
collide, put on nature shows-
such beauty explodes
fall explosion by Angie Quantrell
Photo Credit: Angie Quantrell, Hood Canal, Belfair State Park, WA state
by Angie 6 Comments
SPIDEY SNACK
by Angie Quantrell
Written in honor of Susanna Leonard Hill’s 9th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest. As Susanna says, “aahhhrrrooooOOOOO!!!!!” It’s time for some fun!
Read more tiny stories at Susanna’s blog here.
SPIDEY SNACK
“Help! I’m stuck in this cobweb!” shouted Bumblebee.
Hedgie looked up. “I’ll help” she called. But how? She was too low, Bumble too high.
In her workroom, Hedgie searched recipes. Grow tall spell? Invisible wings oil? Jumping legs gel?
Hedgie heard a chanting voice. “Hungry, yes, starving! Who’s in my web?”
“Legs is coming!” squeaked Bumble.
A floating spell? That’s the trick.
Hedgie mixed ingredients and chugged the potion. She glided up, grabbed Bumble, and popped open her spines.
“Ouch!” yelled Legs. “Wahhh! I’m still hungry.”
“You may not eat my friend. But do join us for Halloween pumpkin soup.”