We’ve showed you some of our favorite book and TV witches, and this week Katie and I are bringing you some of the OBS Staff favorite witches of all times. Enjoy!

Don’t forget to check out our Book Club of the month ‘Book of Shadows’ by Cate Tiernan

Why are these witches OBS Owner Dawn’s favorite?
Well, it’s really just that they bring the series to me visually. Since there are no TV series or movies based on these books, it’s nice to see a drawing that fits what I pictured in my head for each character.

Deborah Mayfair -sketch by ~Dawitch

More of these fan arts HERE

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Source: buffalonews. com

A young reader scouring the pages of the “Percy Jackson” series by Rick Riordan encounters two things: On the surface it’s a fantastic and thrilling story. But beneath the book’s inconsequential guise is a lesson in Greek mythology.

In “The Hunger Games” trilogy, by Suzanne Collins, political issues course through the pages alongside the expected personal threads of grief, love and loyalty. The third book of the increasingly popular series, called “Mockingjay,” hits bookstores today.

Unlike some adult novels, heavy with disillusionment or overwrought prose, these books are fresh and frank — qualities that kids love. Their commercial success, too, is a clear indicator that both children and young adults are absorbing a ton of literature these days — “Mockingjay,” in particular, will have a first printing of 750,000 copies.

But here’s the conundrum: While book sales in the young adult and children’s categories are up despite the recession — a surefire sign that young people are still reading — Newbery Medal-winners like “The Giver” and “Bridge to Terabithia” may be falling by the wayside. Teachers across the country are finding it more and more difficult to push traditional titles without squelching their students’ love of reading.

Read More HERE

I remember having to read “The Giver” and “To Kill A Mocking Bird” back in middle school, I found some interest in them, but not much. But then again at that time in my life I didn’t like reading at all. Maybe if I had read something like “Twilight” back then I would have fell in love with reading quicker.  Although I don’t know why kids would lose intrest in “Bridge to Terabithia”, If a teacher where to show the movie after reading the book I think the kids would enjoy it more. Personally I think it is all in the teachers approach to the books, if they treat it as a old classic book kids aren’t going to think of it in the same way. A teacher needs to plan fun activities to go along with it. Or maybe read a new book like “Twilight” and then read “Jane Eyre”, the students might find more interest in classics if someone from a ‘newer’ book likes old classics.

I don’t like that some of those parents do not want their children reading new books in school. Personally I would be grateful that my child wants to read any book, since there is a big percent of kids who don’t enjoy reading at all.

What do you think of teachers adding new popular books in to their curriculum? Should they stop reading the classics?

A feel weeks ago Caro and I brought to you a ‘Witch’ edition of Fan Art Madness. This week we are bringing a FAM dedicated to all of the witches who have graced our TV screens. Enjoy!

Kiki’s Delivery Service by *Sakuna

I love the style of this piece, even if the author drew it from memory it looks really well because it’s your own style. I like how the black looks with the paper’s color and the little houses really gives it the effect that she is high in the sky. Jiji looks terrified (Caro)

View More Fan Art HERE

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Hello and welcome to another Fan Art Madness edition! This week Katie and I bring you some of our favorite fan arts, we’re just fan art addicts and love them all. But in one post we couldn’t show you all the ones we like, so for the moment enjoy this little treat and be on the look out for more

Wicked Witch by ~ArtNerdEm at deviantART

This looks so cool. I actually like this better than the original book cover. There are a few things that are wrong, Elphaba has black hair not brown and it also looks like she is pregnant, but I am positive it is just her knee. The artist also made Elphie look pretty muscular, not sure if I like that or not. But over all, I love the lighting used and the lettering. (Katie)

View more fan art HERE

Don’t forget to check out our book Club of the month, Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan.

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Which fan art was your favorite?

Hello and welcome to another week of Fan Art Madness, this week Caro and I are bringing you some ‘witch’ inspired art. We hope you enjoy the spookiness

the witch by *izechou

I love her outfit. Witches get to wear great clothes. Books, books and more books, that’s what we’re here for, aren’t we? I liked the textures used too and the cats look adorable, every witch needs her cats. Great piece. (Caro)

View more Fan Art HERE

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Welcome back to another Fan Art Madness edition. Today Katie and I bring some fab art from two of our favorite Miyazaki movies: Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. They are such great movie that we really recommend you to see them. Not only they have wonderful art work but the stories are amazing.

Our first piece might be a little spoiler, so be careful and enjoy!

Spirited Away: Promise by ~arriku at deviantART

I love the concept of this one. After watching Spirited Away myself I always wondered if Kohaku and Chihiro would meet up again. Anyway on to critiquing this piece, I love the lighting and how it illuminates Kohaku and Chihiro. The rain looks really neat too. (Katie)

More fan art here

What did you think of today’s Fan Art Madness?

Which fan art was your favorite?