Big thanks to all of you who commented on the Grace Lin interview!
I’m happy to report we’ve picked the winners of two signed, personalized copies of The Year of the Rat!
Friends, I want you to know this was not an easy task.
For one thing, some of the kitchen helpers grew overly fond of the prize:
Julius cherished it.
Mr. Bear slept with it.
Buddy and Brogan tried to hijack it.
And, when I looked around for help, everyone was too busy.
Becky was scarfing down candied ginger.
So was Pudding.
Who let Skippy into the kitchen?
Others were obsessed with reading beautifully illustrated books:
So I took matters into my own hands.
First, I assigned a number to all 33 commenters.
Then, I wrote the numbers inside foil baking cups:
Next, I folded them up like little dumplings, tossed them into a bamboo steamer, and waited until they were perfectly done:
Just then, our official alphabet soup impartial volunteer returned from Whole Foods just in time to fish out the winners:
And they are:
#17 – Jeannie C. #4 – Kristi Valiant
CONGRATULATIONS!! YAY!! WOOHOO!!
Jeannie and Kristi, please email me with your mailing addresses and personalization info: readermail *at* jamakimrattigan *dot com*!
Thanks again, everyone!!
Jama's Alphabet Soup 
LOVE the Bear Comics!
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Oh my gosh. I adore this. Congratulations to Kristi and Jeannie and to you, brilliant bear woman.
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Thank you so much for fishing out my number Paddington Bear! I can’t wait to see the book. And what a fun and creative way to choose winners!
Kristi Valiant
http://www.kristivaliant.com
http://kristivaliant.blogspot.com
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Okay, now I want to steal your teddy bear collection and add to my own! 😉
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Bears and Books
Elaine M.
Jama,
Love this post–too cute for words!!!
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They send their regards to a fellow furry one.
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Thanks for adoring this!
~ the brilliant bare woman
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Yay for you! You will of course adore the book!
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Show me your bears! Show me your bears!
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Re: Bears and Books
I’ve had to purchase additional copies of Grace’s books just to keep the masses appeased. A good thing 🙂 . . .
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That was so cute! I want kitchen help like yours.
Congrats to the lucky winners!
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They’d be perfect if they could vacuum their own fur :).
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My goodness! You are so very creative. I love all these pictures. You make me want to photo blog now.
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Yes, please do!
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YAY!!
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this! We are going to thoroughly enjoy this book and I just LOVE Grace’s work! I feel like I have won the lottery –
Oh – and the bears are just so cute! You are very clever! 🙂
Thanks again! I am just thrilled!
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Re: YAY!!
Thanks again for entering the drawing, Jeannie!
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This is the cutest contest drawing I ever saw! Congratulations to the winners and thanks for being so entertaining.
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And thanks to you for entering, Andi!
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