70. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

read on my iPhone
2017, Balzer & Bray
444 pgs.
YA CRS
Finished 12/30/2017
Goodreads rating:  4.59 - 73,998 ratings
My rating: 5 all the way
Setting:  I'm guessing Jackson, Mississippi area, since that's where the author resides, but perhaps any inner city in the US

First line/s:  "I shouldn't have come to this party."

My comments:  I don't know why I put off reading this for so long, I've had it since it first came out.  So okay, wow.  It was certainly worth the time and effort, and enforced a perspective that as a "white" person I've tried very hard to embrace.  Incredible writing.  Wonderful perspective.  I don't need to write a review for this, it's all been written. This was engrossing, powerful, and very much needed! AND it was terrific to discover what the title represents....

Goodreads synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
          Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
          But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Postcards Received from GEORGIA

1110.  USA - Georgia

Hi Chris!  I hope you're well and you enjoy this card from the cemetery I volunteer at in Atlanta.  It's called Oakland - please look it up!  Misty

Postcards Received from Utah

2906.  Bryce Canyon National Park

Hello!  I hope you are well.  I am from Oklahoma, but this card is from a trip to Utah.  I am a teacher (7th grade) enjoying summer break.  Happy Memorial Day!  Leslie.

668.  Salt Lake City, Utah

Hope you like this card of colorful mailboxes.  The election is over - thank goodness!

Postcards of Animals of the Wild Variety

2054.  Brisbane, QLD, Australia

I am sorry this is a generic letter, but time means I must!  I live in Brisbane, QLD, Australis.  It is a sub-tropical city with rainforest covered mountains to our west and the ocean to our east.  It is very multicultural with people of all nations making their home here, so we have great dining opportunities and many festivals to join in with throughout the year.  It is warm here generally with temperatures from 35 degrees C in summer to around maybe 10 in winter.  It is very liveable, but often very humid in summer with damaging storms and cyclones possible.  I enjoy reading, camping, spending time with family, friends and my animals (2 dogs, 2 rainbow lorikeets and 4 chickens).  I am currently reading the Robert Galbraith series and am on book 4, "Lethal White."  I am enjoying the series a lot.  I work with special needs teenagers at a local high school, I have been there for 12 years and am now looking for a career change!  I hope this card finds you and your family all well and COVID safe.  Take care, Maree.

1194.  Malaysia

An Orang Utan, means "person of the forest."  These long-haired, orangish primates are highly intelligent and are close relatives of humans.

Hello, A simple hello could lead to a million things.  Wish you luck and may all your dreams come true. Remember, we grow great by dreaming.

1125.  Brunei

 Hi Chris, I'm hoping probiscus monkeys hanging out on a tree branch, looking down as if they're posing for a "candid" shot is quirky enough!  

Brunei is 70% covered with rainforest.  Our population is small - around 400,000, and that's including foreigners.  If you're a fan of mosquitoes, please do come to Brunei!  Take care, Nisa Said

674.  East Germany

Hello Chris, My name is Sylvie.  I'm 34 years old and I live with my husband and little son in East Germany.  I love to travel, too, and to explore new countries with their cultures and religions.  I've just started with Postcrossing one month ago.  I heard about it from a friend of mine.

644.  Russia: Lynx on the Tree

My name is Anna.  I'm 16.  I live in a small town near Moscow which is called Ivante-euka.  I hope you will like this Lynx card.  Greetings, Anna

639.  Malaysia

Dear Chris, greetings from Malaysia!  So sorry to send you this PC which you unlike, but it was so adorable, right?  All the best, Onh See Min

567.  FINLAND

Hello Chris,

About 1500 this kind of bears live in our forests.  I hope I don't meet one when I go to pick lingonberries.  I work in home care as a nurse.  Mostly take blook samples from elderly people who can't go to the lab.

All the best, Marja-Leena

528.  Geo Photo from GERMANY

Hi Chris,

My name is Susanne and I love all kinds of wildlife.  I like watching birds or even ants.  Buytterflies and dragonflies are so fascinating.  Of course,  cheetahs are pretty powerful, fast, strong, yet I find them very graceful, too.  I wish you a smooth transition to Pennsylvania.  I hope you can enjoy every day of your free time!  Best wishes, Susanne

417.  The Squirrel by photographer Sergey Belkin

My name is Nastya, I'm 25.  I live in the south of Russia, at the foot of the (???) Mountains.  In my window at work I can see Elbmus - the highest mountain in Europe.  13.05.2016

338.  Kang Xinyu - Tree

2015.6.8

(There was no number on this card so it could not be registered, but it looks like it comes from last June or August - although the postmark looks like 2016 03 01)

Hello Chris, I'm a university student living in China.  This is the phot I pictured in my hometown.  My hometown is a peaceful place living with many panda.  It is such a great place for me.  Hope you will like it.  Yours, Tree

336.  Miyajima Public Aquarium, Japan

Greetings from Hiroshima, Japan.  Hope you like this card.  Happy Postcrossing!  Michiko

324.  Chamois in Germany

08.05.16

Hi boys and girls,  In the sout of Germany in the gib mountains there are many of these typical animals called chamois.  Do you have them in the United States, too?  Wishing you all the best, Martina

299. Think Skink

Ontario, Canada

Common Five-lined skinks have the ability to "drop" their tails if grasped in order to escape.  The moving tail gragment will distract the predator while the skink escapes.  The missing tail with grow back over time, but will not be the same colour or length as before.  The Common Five-lined Skink is Ontario's ONLY lizard and they are a species at risk. 

Hello!  I love telling people about Canada.  I hope that some day you can visit the "Great White North".  I love camping at Pinery Park!

31% of Canada is forest...

Canada has more lakes than all other countries combined!

and...

20% of the world's fresh water is in Canada.

PICTURE BOOK - Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers

Illustrated by Shawn Harris

2017, Chronicle Books, San Francisco
HC $19.99 (books are getting SO expensive!)

104 pgs.

Goodreads rating: 4.28 - 918 ratings

My rating:  5

Endpapers:  Cut paper of the fencing around the Statue (at least I think it's from somewhere on the island)

Illustrations:  All cut CONSTRUCTION paper, and India ink.

1^st line/s:"You have likely heard of a place called France."

My comments:  I've decided that I like everything about this book.  How the text is talking directly to the reader.  The illustrations, which are created out of cut construction paper.  The message....oh yes, the message. I'm so glad I discovered this book, since our library has not (yet) purchased it....

Goodreads:  "I want to hold this book in one hand and a torch in the other and stand on an island someplace so everyone can see." —Lemony Snicket
     If you had to name a statue, any statue, odds are good you'd mention the Statue of Liberty. Have you seen her?
     She's in New York. 
     She's holding a torch. 
     And she's in mid-stride, moving forward. 
     But why?
In this fascinating, fun take on nonfiction, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris investigate a seemingly small trait of America's most emblematic statue. What they find is about more than history, more than art. What they find in the Statue of Liberty's right foot is the powerful message of acceptance that is essential to an entire country's creation. 

MOVIE - Father Figures

R (1:53)

Wide release 12/22

Viewed 12/26/2017 in Camp Hill
IMBd: 5/10

RT Critic: 25   Audience:  42

Cag:  4/Liked it a lot

Directed by Lawrence Sher

Warner Brother Pictures

Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, Glenn Close, Terry Brandshaw, J. K. Simmons

My comments:  This was a really funny comedy that I thoroughly enjoyed.  It was pretty impossible to believe throughout the entire movie that Ed Helms and Owen Wilson were actual twin brothers, but in theory they pulled it off and I laughed my butt off in many places.  They're both really good and really funny, and I thouroughly enjoyed Glenn Glose as their mom.  During the credits it said that one of the actresses was Katie Asleton - I'm pretty sure this is my old friend Jennifer's sister-in-law and when I looked it p, sure enough, she was born in Milbridge, Maine.  Don't you love it when small town local girls make it in the big time?  She's married to Mark Duplass.  Cool.

RT/ IMDb Summary:  Two brothers (Owen Wilson and Ed Helms) hit the road to find their long-lost dad after they learn that their mom has been lying to them about his death. 

MOVIE - Ladybird

R (1:33)

Limited release 11/3/17

Viewed 12/23/18 at Carlisle Theater
IMBd: 7.9

RT Critic: 99   Audience:  81
Critic's Consensus:  Lady Birddelivers fresh insights about the turmoil of adolescence -- and reveals writer-director Greta Gerwig as a fully formed filmmaking talent.

Cag:  4/Liked it a lot

Directed by Greta Gerwig

A24 Studio

Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf

My comments:  Excellent acting.  The story was not something special, it was a look at the everyday life of a teenage girl living in Sacramento, California.  It was, in particular, an examination of the relationship between a mother and daughter.  There were some good funny bits, especially during scenes in the parochial school where Lady Bird attends.  If Laurie Metcalf had been my mother, I would probably have ended up a lot more screwed up than Ladybird seems to be.  The big question, never answered, was how Christine came up with the name Ladybird?  

RT/ IMDb Summary:   In Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig reveals herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with her directorial debut, excavating both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter. Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, Lady Bird is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home.

MOVIE - Star Wars: The Last Jedi

PG-13 (2:32)

12/15/17 Wide Release

Viewed 12/21/17 at Carlisle 8
IMBd:  7.7/10

RT Critic: 92   Audience:  54
Critic's Consensus:  Star Wars: The Last Jedi honors the saga's rich legacy while adding some surprising twists -- and delivering all the emotion-rich action fans could hope for.

4/Liked it a lot

Directed by Rian Johnson

Walt Disney Productions

Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Laura Dern, Carrie Fisher

My comments:  May the force be with you!  I wish I could remember more of the story from one episode to the next.  I am not a lover of the super shoot-em-up, bang-em-up explosion scenes, but the relationships between the characters are great fun to explore and watch.  So much subtle humor, and it was great fun to watch Carrie Fisher reprise her Princess Leia role.  It was pretty cool for even Yoda to make an appearnce!  And I have become quite an Adam Driver fan of late, I totally enjoyed him in this role as bud guy.  Just hearing the Star Wars music gives me goosebumps! So now both Han and Luke are dead in the movie and Leia is alive.  So odd that in real life it's the exact opposite, Looking forward to the next one - two years?  three?  

RT/ IMDb Summary:  In Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.

Christmas Storytime at the Library

I read three books aloud to preschoolers today, I chose ones with three different animals as protagonists. Then we glued sequins for ornaments, drew garlands with glitter crayons, and topped the pre-cut green construction paper tree with a sticky star.  Very cute, and manageable for little hands.  I had eight books to choose from and the ones I chose were big hits:

Merry Christmas, Merry Crow
by Kathi Appelt
Illustrated by Jon Goodell
2005, Harcourt, Inc.

     "Wind's a blowin'
Sky's a snowin'
     Where's this feathered
               fellow goin'?"

The crow glides through each double-page spread, collecting all sorts of tinsel and trinkets he finds laying around, to decorate a tree for all his flying friends.  Gorgeously illustrated, with no white edges (I love edge-of-page to edge-of-page illustrations), the continuous snowfall and merry Christmas shoppers and carolers make this a happy, fun book to share with kids.
     Goodreads rating:  3.93 - 87 ratings

Stowaway in a Sleigh
Written and illustrated by C. Roger Mader
2016 Houghton Mifflin

"It was the darkest hour of night when Slipper heard strange footsteps in the house."

Well, of course she went to investigate, and discovered Mr. Fuzzy Boots...and crawled into his now-empty cozy red bag. After she was whisked away to the North Pole where she made new friends, Santa made a special trip back to Slippers' house to return her.  My little listener was at first a little distressed when she realized that Slippers might not be able to get home again, but enjoyed the story and the illustrations greatly.  Again the gorgeous illustrations covered each entire double-page spread from edge to edge and accentuated the story superbly.
     Goodreads rating:  4.15 - 161 ratings

Bear Stays Up for Christmas
by Karma Wilson
Illustrated by Jane Chapman
2004, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster

"The day before Christmas,
snuggled on his floor,
Bear sleeps soundly
with a great big snore."

Bear has such a tough time staying up once his friends awaken him for Christmas...it is time for his "big sleep" after all, but when it comes time for them to doze off on Christmas Eve, he has a wonderful time preparing surprises for them to find in the morning.  A very cute story, again with many double-page spreads.  Three winners today!
     Goodreads:  4.28 - 6,938 ratings



   

PICTURE BOOK - She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton

Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

2017, Philomel Books

HC $17.99

32 pgs.

Goodreads rating: 4.45 - 2139 ratings

My rating: 5

Endpapers:  Bright red

1^st line/s:"Sometimes being a girl isn't easy.  At some point, someone probably will tell you no, will tell you to be quiet and may even tell you your dreams are impossible.  Don't listen to them."

                           

My comments:  Chelsea Clinton, herself someone to be admired, chose 13 really interesting women to inspire the young girls of today.  Each double page consists of a short, informative piece about each woman's accomplishment/s, a quote from her, and an illustration of her "in action."  It was fun to turn each page and anticipate who would be the next person included.  If you, too, would like to anticipate the thirteen persistent women, read no further. 
The are: 
Harriet Tubman, 
Helen Keller, 
Clara Lemlich, 
Nellie Bly, 
Virginia Apgar, 
Mari Tallchief, 
Claudette Colvin, 
Ruby Bridges, 
Margaret Chase Smith, 
Sally Ride, 
Florence Griffith Joyner, 
Oprah Winfrey, and 
Sonia Sotomayer. 
(I would then include Gabby Giffords.)  Great book.

Goodreads:Chelsea Clinton introduces tiny feminists, mini activists and little kids who are ready to take on the world to thirteen inspirational women who never took no for an answer, and who always, inevitably and without fail, persisted.
          Throughout American history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what’s right, even when they have to fight to be heard. In early 2017, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s refusal to be silenced in the Senate inspired a spontaneous celebration of women who persevered in the face of adversity. In this book, Chelsea Clinton celebrates thirteen American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted.
          She Persisted is for everyone who has ever wanted to speak up but has been told to quiet down, for everyone who has ever tried to reach for the stars but was told to sit down, and for everyone who has ever been made to feel unworthy or unimportant or small.
          With vivid, compelling art by Alexandra Boiger, this book shows readers that no matter what obstacles may be in their paths, they shouldn’t give up on their dreams. Persistence is power.
          This book features: Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Clara Lemlich, Nellie Bly, Maria Tallchief, Claudette Colvin, Ruby Bridges, Margaret Chase Smith, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, Oprah Winfrey, Sonia Sotomayor—and one special cameo.

PICTURE BOOK - Malala's Magic Pencil by Malal Yousafzai

Illustrated by Kerascoet (a husband wife team)

2017, Little Brown & Co.
HC $17.99
40 pgs.

Goodreads rating:  4.47 - 777 ratings

My rating:  5

Endpapers:  BOTH sides are a burst of journal and pencil in white on shiny gold background

Illustrations:  Edge-of-page to edge-of page, though lots of white is used in the background

1^st line/s:  "When I was younger, I used to watch a TV show about a boy who had a magic pencil."

My comments:  A biography/memoir for young kids, written by Malala herself.  It's a gentle story of hope and dreams, touching on the ugliness of what happened to her but not dwelling on it.  The illustrations are magical, with lots of shiny gold used throughout and on the endpapers.  Highly recommended.

Goodreads: Nobel Peace Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Malala Yousafzai's first picture book, inspired by her own childhood.
          Malala's first picture book will inspire young readers everywhere to find the magic all around them.
          As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to make her wishes come true. 
          This beautifully illustrated volume tells Malala's story for a younger audience and shows them the worldview that allowed Malala to hold on to hope even in the most difficult of times.

PICTURE BOOK - I Pledge Allegiance by Pat Mora & Libby Martinez

Illustrated by Patrice Barton

2014, Alfred A. Knopf

available in paper ($7.99) and HC ($16.99)

32 pgs.

Goodreads rating:  3.97 - 234 ratings

My rating: 4

Endpapers: A large, faint American flage with the words of the pledge in bold font

1^st line/s:  'On Monday when I get to school, my teacher, Mrs. Adams, asks, "Did your great-aunt pass her test?"'

My comments: A good story and I very much enjoyed the illustrations.  Ms. Mora and Ms. Martinez collaborate on this story based on their great-aunt, who they called Lobo,  who became an American citizen in her late 70s.  It's also a story about memorizing The Pledge of Allegiance - both remembering the words and thinking about what they mean.  Very much recommended.

Goodreads:  Patriotism across the generations as a little girl and her great aunt learn the Pledge of Allegiance together.
     Libby's great aunt, Lobo, is from Mexico, but the United States has been her home for many years, and she wants to become a U.S. citizen. At the end of the week, Lobo will say the Pledge of Allegiance at a special ceremony. Libby is also learning the Pledge this week, at school-at the end of the week, she will stand up in front of everyone and lead the class in the Pledge. Libby and Lobo practice together-asking questions and sharing stories and memories-until they both stand tall and proud, with their hands over their hearts.

PICTURE BOOK - Anna & Solomon by Elaine Snyder

Illustrated by Harry Bliss

2014, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, NY

OP in hardcover, available for Kindle

32 pgs.

Goodreads rating: 3.83 - 109 ratings

My rating: 4

Endpapers: Light blue (solid)

1^st line/s:  "Once -- and not once upon a time, because this is a true story -- in 1897 in Russia there lived a handsome young man who fell in love with a beautiful  young woman, and one bright day, under a canopy of leaves and spring flowers, they were married."

My comments:  Immigration, whether it happened over a hundred years ago or now, is still the story of people moving from one country to another.  So even though the true story of Anna & Solomon happened 1n 1897, we can certainly relate today.  And although this is the story of a loving Jewish couple, it could be the story of any couple of any religion or culture.  And this story has a bit of a twist to it....a twist which shows Solomon's patience and love for Anna!

Goodreads:  In 1897, a young man named Solomon fell in love with and married a beautiful young woman named Anna. They lived in Russia, which was dangerous at that time for a Jewish family, so Solomon moved to the United States, where he worked and saved until he had enough money to send Anna a ticket for the  voyage across the ocean. But when Solomon went to meet Anna’s ship, Anna’s younger brother was waiting for him. Solomon took in her brother and worried and saved until he could send the money for Anna’s passage again—but this time, Anna’s older brother was waiting. When Solomon sent the money a third time and Anna’s mother arrived, Solomon wondered if he would ever see his dear wife again. 
          Anna & Solomon is based on the true story of the author’s grandparents’ immigration. 

PICTURE BOOK - The House of Wisdom by Florence Parry Heide and Judith Heide Gilliland

Illustrated by Mary Grandpre

1999, DK Publishing, NY

currently OP

40 pgs.

Goodreads rating:  4.07 - 68 ratings

My rating: 4:  

Endpapers:  peachy/orange

Illustrations:  orangy pastels, no white on the very large pages

1^st line/s: "Over many lands came caravans of camels, six thousand strong, swaying and rocking as the padded single file across the sands and plains on their way to Baghdad."

My comments:  I always get excited when I find a well-written picture book for older kids.  This is certainly one of them.  Based on history, this is the story of 9th century Baghdad and its books, libraries, scholars, and inquisitive minds. I love that it points out that at this time areas to the west (Europe) were basically uneducated and, perhaps, crude.  And when talking about scholars, like Aristotle, coming a thousand years before, the father tells his son, "We are like the leaves of the same tree, separated by many autumns."  What a great quote!

Goodreads:  This is the true story of Ishaq, a young boy in ninth-century Baghdad. And it is the story of the House of Wisdom. More than a house, more than a library, more even than a palace, the House of Wisdom was at the very center of the new ideas that flourished in Baghdad. It was here that thousands of scholars gathered to read, to exchange ideas, and to translate the dusty manuscripts that were brought by camel and ship from all over the world. Ishaq cannot understand why ancient words, words from faraway places, can cause such excitement. Then he embarks on a difficult journey seeking lost manuscripts. But it is what he discovers when he returns that ignites his imagination and changes him forever.Lyrical prose and glorious illustrations capture the splendor of Baghdad when it was the center of one of the world's great civilizations. They tell the story of Ishaq's transformation from a bewildered young boy searching for understanding to a brilliant scholar, the greatest translator of Aristotle, whose work preserved Greek thought for civilizations to come.

PENGUIN Postcards Received

2901.  Gentoo Penguins

We live at a very quiet (and some people say "lonely") area, surrounded by nature.  I have a very large garden, and grow everything on  fruits and vegetables we eat (and mostly still enough to give to the kids) - This garden keeps me busy and fit, and the same do our 2 little dogs.  And even though I'ma a bit far away from "social" life, I never feel bored.  I'm more than happy.  All the best, Monique.

2900.  Emperor Penguins Huddling

Howdy from San Antonio!  I am married and have a do yr. old son.  I love to read, watch ice hockey especially the Pittsburgh Penguins and I have been collecting all kinds of penguins for 40 years.  I also started taking figure skating lessons in Feb. 2021 - something I always wanted to do.  It's a great cardio workout.  I hope your are staying safe & healthy.  Regine.

2131.  From Russia with love!

Good day!  Hello dear Mrs. Chris Graves!  I'm pleased to greet you from Russia.  Once I was lucky enough to travel around the USA.  I like your country, people, and culture.  I love to read and I have a very large home library.  I also love nature and my little garden.  Wishing you and your family peace and happiness!  Best wishes and Good luck!  Alexander

2130.  Sent from Taiwan

no message

2129.  Hello from Russia!

My name is Liukov.  I live in cultural capital in Saint Petersburg.  I like music and coffee.  It helps me in all cases.  So my favorite season is autumn.  I think rain is good for coffee and music.  :)

1981.  New Jersey

Greetings from the great state of New Jersey.  Take Care!

1971.  Juist Island, Germany

"King Penguin Pair"

Hi Chris,  Many greetings from island Juist in Germany.  Cars are forbidden here - except rescue cars.  Transports are done by horses, people ride bicycles.  Happy Postcrossing!  Martina

1911.  Sopot, Poland, on the Baltic Sea coast

Hello Chris!  I'm Natalia (33 y.o.) and I live with my husband and two lovely children (3 and 6 y.o.) in Sopot, a touristic city on the Baltic Sea coast.  Today here in Sopot is -6 degrees C (21 F) and it is snowing.  My children are going on a sled.  Wish you all the best in 2019!  Natalia

1296.  China

 CHN-42839

 received 5/12/18

Hello.  Greetings from China.  I hope you get this card successfully. 

"Accept what was and what is, and you will have more positive energy to pursue what will be."  

This is a sentence I like.

1271.  New England Aquarium

Rockhopper Penguin

"Rockhopper penguins are popular for their punk rock hair of wild yellow feathers.  Rockhoppers get their name from jumping over boulders and across cracks on the coasts of their native South America.

Received from suepier/CA in a swapbot postcard swap called "Two Good Movies #1

1236.  Suzhou, CHINA

I'm Zhong?? come from Suzhou of P. R. C. The red ink is my own stone seal engraved patern., a blessing!  I hope you can like it.

1224.  from China

Greetings from China, I hope you like the postcard and stamps I chose.  Happy Chinese New Year!  Mazhanlong

1182 .  Greetings from Volgograd, Russia!

My name is Julia, I am 18 years old and I am a student.  I hope you enjoy this postcard.  I wish you all the best in the new year!  Julia.  20.01.2018

1177.  Hong Kong

Hello Chris, Greetings from Hon Kong!  This postcard was designed by a local artist.  He gave a chance for penguins to fly!  Hope you like this card.  Cheers, Stacey Tsang

1174.  Poland

Hello Chris!  Thanks you for registering my lost postcard (the lost postcard is the one above).  Here is a second one for you.  (It is of a book and rose with the quote from Umberto Eco:  "Who reads books, he lives a double.")  I am pensioner and after stroke I have troubles with handwriting.  Let me know when you receive this postcard.  With love, Halina

1156.  Oregon Zoo sent from Larsen Bay, AK

Humboldt Penguin.  These flightless sea birds inhabit the coast of Peru.  With their streamlined bodies and strong flippers they are able to swim at up to 30 mph!  The Zoo's colony of more than 35 penguins live in an award-winning exhibit that features below the water viewing and a wave machine.

Hugs from Alaska, where there are no penguins, Sherry

1142.  "Africa Rocks" at the San Diego Zoo

They just opened this new Africa Rocks section.  There's a new really nice penguin exhibit that also has leopard sharks in it - the zoo's first sharks!  Hope you're staying warm - it was 80 degrees when I sent to the zoo on Saturday! (Jan 15)

1092.  Vienna, Austria

1068.  Wuppertal (near Cologne), Germany

1059.  Yellow-Eyed Penguin

I saw on your profile that you like penguins, so do I.  Thought you might like this postcard of the Yellow Eyed Penguin.  These penguins live mainly in the southern parts of New Zealand and are protected as much as possible.  Unfortunately this year the numbers of these penguins have declined.  There is an organization that supports the Yellow Eyed Penguin here in New Zealand and I belong to that.  Kaxa   11-30-2017

998.  Higashiyama Zoo, Japan