Happy Haul-idays from Chronicle Books!

Welcome to my second annual Chronicle Books Happy Haul-idays submission post (last year, I actually posted from my other blog, Curly Wurly)! Chronicle Books (my favorite publisher!) has upped the ante this year. This year's winner will score $500 worth of books handpicked from the publisher's vast catalogue. What's even more exciting is one of the triumphant blog's readers (who comments on their submission post) will receive a matching set of the winner's handpicked selections. And, Chronicle Books has decided to be even more generous this year! They will also donate $500 worth of books to a charity of the winner's choice. So, without further ado, here is my official submission post to Chronicle Book's Happy Haul-idays contest. If you're interested in winning my picks, please comment on this post. [NOTE: Obviously, your winning these books depend upon my winning the contest.] If you know anyone who might like my selection, feel free to link them to this post. (If you entered this contest, too, and think I might be interested in your list of books, let me know!) Finally, if you have a blog and want to enter the contest for yourself, simply click on this link and follow the simple directions. [All submissions and entries must be received by December 2, 2011. Read the official rules! Good luck!]

1. Lennon Legend: An Illustrated Life Of John Lennon by James Henke [40]
2. The Beatles Anthology [paperback - 35]
3. F In Exams: The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers by Richard Benson [10]
4. The Book of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks: A Celebration of Creative Punctuation by Bethany Keeley [15]
5. Hello, Please!: Very Helpful Super Kawaii Characters from Japan by Matt Alt and Hiroko Yoda [15]
6. TCM Classic Movie Trivia: Featuring More Than 4,000 Questions to Test Your Cinema Smarts by Turner Classic Movies [23]
7. TCM Classic Movie Crossword Puzzles by Turner Classic Movies [10]
8. Art Of The Modern Movie Poster: International Postwar Style and Design by Judith Salavetz, Spencer Drate, and Sam Sarowitz [75]
9. Leading Couples: Unforgettable Screen Romances of the Studio Era by Turner Classic Movies [20]
10. Picture Show: Classic Movie Posters from the TCM Archives by Dianna Edwards [20]
11. Catalog: The Illustrated History of Mail Order Shopping (Princeton Architectural Press) by Robin Cherry [35]
12. Holidays on Display (Princeton Architectural Press) by William L. Bird, Jr. [25]
13. Stewardess: Come Fly With Me! by Elissa Stein [15]
14. Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in Fifties Animation by Amid Amidi [40]
15. The Games We Played: The Golden Age of Board and Table Games (Princeton Architectural Press) by Margaret K. Hofer [25]
16. America's Doll House: The Miniature World of Faith Bradford (Princeton Architectural Press) by William L. Bird, Jr. [25]
17. ASPCA Complete Guide To Cats by James R. Richards, DVM [25]
18. Let's Bring Back: An Encyclopedia of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful, Chic, Useful, Curious, and Otherwise Commendable Things from Times Gone By by Lesley M.M. Blume [20]

[total approximately $473]

Now, for the charitable portion of this post:

I've often wondered what gift could possibly be better than a book. A favorite book can spark your imagination, challenge, and inspire you. At best, it can be a lifelong friend that you turn to again and again. However, I think I have finally found a more fulfilling gift! The only thing better than a book of one's own would be to ignite a passion for reading and learning in kids who might otherwise have limited access to books at home and at school. I am reminded of how blessed I was to grow up in a house packed with books, to have been read to every night, and to have had a family that went to the library together every week (surely the reason why reading has always been one of my greatest joys in life!). It seems unfathomable to me that there are children who may not own one book and don't have a library card. But that is exactly what is happening in Philadelphia. I chose the local literacy program Reach Out and Read, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, as my charity because, as a lifelong Philadelphian, I'm only too aware of the problems the city has faced with regards to education, literacy, and funding for programs to benefit children. As the economy has continued its decline, education and literacy have suffered intolerably. The fate of Philadelphia's public library system has been in jeopardy, and many of its branches have narrowly avoided closure. This is a growing problem for the entire city and its citizens, but, ultimately, it is the children, who are also at the mercy of a failing educational system, that will bear the brunt of this dire situation. I believe in Reach Out and Read's mission that 'fostering literacy and a love of reading opens countless avenues for success and lifelong joys for children,' and it's my honor to designate them as my charity in this contest. Please take the time to read their website and support this and other like-minded groups.

Please comment on this post if you would like to be considered an entrant for my prize package (should I win). Please spread the link to this post if you think you know people who would be interested. If you are a blogger, consider entering the contest (see information above). If you have entered the contest, feel free to point me in the direction of your submission post. And, thank you again!