Z-End! #atozchallenge

You did it!!

You have reached the end of the Challenge.

There may have been days when you struggled – keeping up with posts, keeping up with comments… But you made it.

Now it’s time to look back and reflect.

Did you accomplish your goals?

Did you post every day?

Did you make new friends?

Did you enjoy the Challenge?

Join us starting May 5 for the A to Z Challenge Reflections post.

We ask that you reflect on your experience and let us know what you enjoyed, what you could’ve done better, and where we can improve.

The Linky List will open May 5 – please enter your direct link AFTER you have posted your reflections.

Thanks to everyone who participated. Your participation is what makes this Challenge so special.

Y - You're Going to Make It! #atozchallenge

Y ou started off on an adventure

O utside your comfort zone, perhaps

U' ncharted territory

R  eluctant, maybe:What have I gotten myself into?

E  xcited though, of course



G  aining momentum

O  verjoyed with more visitors, and

I  nteresting new blogs to read

N  ew friends and followers

G  oing as fast as you could


T  owards your goal

O  nly onward


M  aking one step at a time

A  lmost done now!

K  nock it out of the park!

E  lation!


I  incredible

T  ime had by all!

If you've made it this far, as I said at "T", you're going all the way.  Be proud.  Stand tall.  Your Survivor Badge will be available tomorrow!

~Tina

X-cessive #blogging during the #AtoZChallenge ?

Now that we're near the end of the challenge, some of us might be exhausted, and with reason. It wasn't easy to do what we've done, otherwise it wouldn't be called a challenge!

You might be planning a blog hiatus, or at the least, more sleep.

X-hausted Copyrighted Susan Utley

Well, while a little more rest might be in order, if you truly want to reap the benefits of the challenge, make sure you make a few blogging changes:

1. Try and stay in touch with the new bloggy friends you made.
2. Blog at least once a week, and more if you can.
3. Pre-schedule at least some of your posts so you have more time to visit.
4. Visit 10 blogs a day, a few of them your regular friends, and some new ones.
5. Consider making guest posts on this AZ blog to promote a cause or your book or product.

So yes, after x-cessive, x-hausting blogging, we recommend more x-hilirating blogging, only at an easier pace. Stay tuned to hear more about the A to Z Post Challenge Road Trip.

A to Z Post Challenge Road Trip.

A to Z Post Challenge Road Trip.

And do not forget to make your Reflections Post-- the linky will be open on 5th May on this blog! Link your Reflections post on this linky, and NOT your blog.

Your posts would help us cohosts learn what to do better next year, and you might learn from each others' experiences!

Woohoo!

We're almost there!

This is just a quick hello, we hope you're (still) having fun, and here's a little earworm for your Saturday. Give yourself a big WOOHOO for making it almost the whole way through the Challenge! We've said it a lot of times, but it bears repeating: we are SO glad you all decided to participate, and that you've stuck with us through this amazing month of A to Z madness.

Enjoy your well-earned day off tomorrow. Rest up and let's finish strong!

Woohoo!
~ the Co-Hosts

V is for Vietnam

Welcome to V day happy challengers! 

I'd like to be slightly serious for a moment and share a book title with you about the Vietnam War.  To be sure, war is not a kid subject but it provides a good opportunity for kids to study the reasons and the effects of war.  The problem is, though, that sometimes the subject matter is too intense for our little ones to handle.

I found a series, mostly aimed at the younger fellows, that brings the serious subject to a level they can understand.

Vietnam: I Pledge Allegiance by Chris Lynch

Few authors write about history and war and this is just the kind of stuff young guys like to read about. Read the blurb from Goodreads.com and see if you don't think your guy might like this:

Four best friends. Four ways to serve their country.

Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck are best friends for life. So when one of the teens is drafted into the Vietnam War, the others sign up, too. Although they each serve in a different branch, they are fighting the war together--and they pledge to do all they can to come home together.

Haunted by dreams of violence and death, Morris makes it his personal mission to watch over his friends--and the best place to do that is in the US Navy. Stationed off the coast of Vietnam on the USS Boston, Morris and his fellow sailors provide crucial support to the troops on the ground.

But the Boston itself isn't safe from attack. And as Morris finds his courage and resolve tested like never before, he keeps coming back to a single thought.

He made a pledge. He must keep them safe.

What do you think? Sounds great right?  The only other author I know of that writes about this topic for the guys is Walter Dean Myers.

What do you think? Have you read anything by Chris Lynch or Walter Dean Myers?

~Pammy Pam, An Unconventional Librarian