"Luck is preparation meeting opportunity."- Lucius Annaeus Seneca

(This post was supposed to publish last week, but given how many people were participating in Screen Free Week, I thought I'd wait.) 

A few weeks ago on Twitter, Writer's House agent Steven Malk tweeted out something that had me very excited. He said, "In 15 minutes, I'll ask a children's lit trivia question.  1st correct answer gets these books: pic.twitter.com/iepUj3iTTk Sharpen your brain!" The books in question? These beauties: 

Steven Malk's twitpic

And oh, I was excited! I LOVE children's literature, and I love a chance to win books even more! So what did I do? I sat there and waited for the next tweet. I had a feeling I might know the answer to this question. Mr. Malk comes from a family of book lovers, and he has a love of the classic when it comes to children's literature. And sure enough:"Trivia question: "In The Tale of Peter Rabbit, what 3 things does Peter Rabbit eat (in order) right after sneaking into Mr. McGregor's garden?"

I thought, "Are you freaking kidding me?!" I had, not even an hour before, been reading Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" to my sick-at-home almost three year old, and the answer was lighting up my brain like fireworks! I was so excited because I knew. Now I just had to be sure my tweet got out there before someone got on Google and had a chance to tweet the answer!

I was biting my nails and then: 

WOOHOO! I was dancin'! (Did you see the extra 'and?' I was typing so fast my brain almost went blank!) It was ridiculous how excited I was about this, but you guys understand. I mean, a pile of picture books? I was in heaven! And before too long, a special box came to me all the way from the Golden State.

Gorgeous, am I right? 

Needless to say, I was not the only one over the moon about these goodies. My kids saw them sitting on the newly installed shelf in my bookcase and immediately started pouring over them. A few titles (CHU'S DAY, RAIN!, IF I BUILT A HOUSE) are already in heavy bedtime rotation, but I'm sure they'll all get their chance. 

In the meantime, I wanted to do something to pass on the generosity that is constantly making itself known in  children's literature circles. You see, I already have a copy of EXTRA YARN. I bought it last year when Jon Klassen was a speaker at SCBWI's summer conference in Los Angeles. I have it signed and everything (and will get Mac Barnett to sign it this year in LA-yippee!). 

So although the copy that came in my prize package is lovely, and while it would probably find a home in one of my kids' rooms, like Annabelle- I think if I could pass on a little of the joy I experienced, it would make this whole experience that much sweeter. 

Here is what I am going to do. In the comments below, I want you to tell me a beloved picture book title from your childhood. It doesn't have to be a classic, literary, award-winning, or even recognizable to me. If you loved it, and can remember looking at the pages of that book and being happy, tell me about it. On May 10th, I'll close the comments at midnight. Monday morning, I'll announce the lucky recipient of this book. (Sorry, you must reside in the United States.) Sound good? Go!