Scene of the Blog Featuring Susan of The Book Chook

I'm very happy to be featuring Susan this week. Are you familiar with this Australian blogger who's so very passionate about children's literature and literacy? If you are familiar with her, then you know how many wonderful ideas she has to get children to love reading and incorporate it into their daily lives.

If you're not acquainted with her, please stop by her blog, The Book Chook, and say hello. While you're there checking out her fantastic blog, you can also take a look at her free publication, Literacy Lava. For Susan, it's all about getting kids to read and having them love every second of it. It makes me wonder what sort of person I'd be today if I hadn't become a reader at a very early age? My life has been so shaped by the printed page that I simply cannot imagine my life without books. We need more people like Susan to get the world reading!

Let's take a look at where this very creative person blogs, shall we? I thought you'd agree! Don't forget that you can click on the photos to view them full size.

Here is where I do most of my blogging. I have had my iMac for 12 months and love it to bits. I got it not long after I started The Book Chook blog, which is where I give free rein to my passion for children's literature and literacy. My family calls it my obsession, but I think passion is so much more genteel.

I usually create my posts in Text Edit, a very minimal, notepad-like program, and behind that, my browser so I can find the links I need. Then I transfer my posts to blogger. I try to have about 20 posts on the go at once. Book reviews I try to write as soon as I finish the book, but I also blog heaps about children's literacy. Those posts involve researching websites, online story creators, educational games etc. You know the drill, it's a tough life, but someone has to do it.

Reading is something I prefer to do away from the screen. I spend many hours researching, studying, surfing and writing online, so I need a break from the screen as often as possible. I walk every day, but I try to build little walks into my day too, because I crave a break from all the white noise the internet generates in my head. So I often walk into my garden, and sit by the pool to read or meditate. Right now it's summer in Australia, so it's fun to do some laps and cool off, then sit in the shade to read.

I don't get to read many books for grown-ups, because I just don't have the time. Luckily Santa brought me two that I have added to my (smaller, adult) tbr pile - Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul and The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. The other, larger tbr pile of children's books somehow keeps growing despite a sign on my blog to say I am not accepting any new books until I clear my backlog. I keep reading about wonderful-sounding books! Am I a children's book junkie? Probably. I blame the other great kidlit people in the blogosphere who seduce me with book reviews!

I love Kittling Books because it keeps me in touch with the promise of grown-up reading. (One day, I swear I will join your ranks- I just have to finish another sixty or so children's books!) Thanks Cathy for letting me share a little bit of my blogging world.

I have to admit that I'm sitting here with a perverse little grin on my face. You see, I'm envisioning all of you who are shivering in the depths of winter looking at Susan's pool and turning the teeniest bit green with envy. Me? I'm not envious. I live in the desert, and I'm not shivering!

I really like the way Susan has her office set up-- especially with that large window front and center. And as for where she likes to read, you gotta love it. Water draws me like a magnet. Always has. Give me a watering hole, and I've found my favorite place to read!

Thanks so much for sharing your creative spaces with us, Susan. We really appreciate it!

Who will be featured next Wednesday on Scene of the Blog? You'll just have to stop by and find out. See you then!