This is the opening line to Stormbreaker, the first novel in the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz:

"When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it's never good news."

I totally agree!--  Sherrie Petersen

This submission was GREAT, but longish-- almost the whole story-- but I trimmed it to this wonderful concluding verse--Donna Farley)

Here's a quote from a Debi Gliori picture book, she writes and illustrates and is based in Edinburgh - my hero!

"No Matter What" by Debi Gliori

'Small, look at the stars - how they shine and glow, but some of those stars died a long time ago.

still they shine in the evening skies

love, like starlight, never dies.'

Makes me well up, every - single - time. :-)

Katherine Sanders

My dear young lady," said the Professor, suddenly looking up with a very sharp expression at both of them, "there is one plan which no one has yet suggested and which is well worth trying."

     "What's that?" said Susan.

     "We might all try minding our own business," said he.

-- C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

I think the Professor's advice can be applied to so many situations these days! 

I was quite unhappy when the movie changed this line into Hollywood tripe about behaving like a family. In fact, the kids -were- behaving like a family-- fighting and wrangling together!-- D. Farley

"If she can't spell, why is she a librarian?  Librarians should know how to spell."
-Ramona Quimby in Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary

I've always loved how literal kids can be (and Ramona is always an excellent example of that trait). She is responding to a license plate she sees which is naturally a misspelling of "librarian" because license plates have very limited characters. I am not a perfect speller myself, but I always appreciate good spelling. We all have spell check.

Thanks!  Fun blog!
Carin Siegfried

http://carolinebookbinder.blogspot.com/

Hi Donna,

I read about your blog on Verla's Blueboards. Glad to "meet" you there!

I just read "Here Lies the Librarian," by Richard Peck. Peck is amazing at developing strong voice, and this one rings true to the characters and setting:

"Any outrage as big as hiring an librarian was bound to bring everybody out of the woodwork."

Love this book! -- Liana Mahoney

"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

I bought a nice edition hardcover 2nd hand last summer to replace my paperback copy which was falling to pieces, having lived in my bookcase continously, when not being actively read, since I bought it new before I left highschool in 1977. In that context, the dedication in the hardcover is its own ultra short (sad) story:

"Dear Sarah: This is a 'special' story - one to keep. Happy Birthday on your 11th, Jan 15th, '96. Much Love Auntie Sheila & Uncle Jim"

--- Alain Hargreaves

"Reading can be a road to freedom or a key to a secret garden, which, if tended, will transform all of life." --Katherine Patterson


Found this great quote by Newbery winner Katherine Patterson on a GoodReads quote page

-- Donna Farley, KidLitQuote Blog