Top 10 Great Books for Children (from CTTC)

The Canadian Toy Testing Council has announced their top 10 books for children and I wanted to mention (and link to) the two books in the list that I've reviewed:

Bradley McGogg the Very Fine Frog by Tim Beiser
Chicken, Pig, Cow by Ruth Ohi
(the sequel to this book just came in the mail yesterday so keep an eye out for the review)

You can find the whole list at the Canadian Toy Testing Council.

Review Catching Up (Various)

Julia's Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child
Subtitle: Essential Techniques and Recipes From a Lifetime of Cooking

Stars: ****

This little volume is a small book of cooking wisdom from none other than Julia Child which was released in honour of the Julie & Julia movie with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams that came out. Although I like cooking, I'm still learning and I don't know the fancy names of most techniques or the specific way to do them. This book is different from your usual cookbook because it's less about recipes and more about technique, although there ARE some recipes.

Contents are as follows: Soups and Two Mother Sauces, Salads and their Dressings, Vegetables, Meats/Poultry/fish, Egg Cookery, Breads/Crepes/Tarts, Cakes and Cookies and Kitchen Equipment and Definitions. Here is a very SMALL list of things you'll learn: Using Simmered Mushroom Caps as garnish, Cooking with Wine, How to properly dredge, How to tell when homemade bread is done, and much, much more. My only real complain is lack of photos. There were some times I would have liked picture demonstrations but for the most part, I suppose you can get by without photographs. I especially like the last chapter which explains the difference between baste, beat, blanch, fold, mince, puree, saute, toss and more.

You can find a MUCH better review of this book at Books I Done Read. Thanks to Random House for the book.

Dear Jo: The story of losing Leah ... and searching for hope by Christina Kilbourne

Stars: *****

Summary: Maxine and her best friend Leah used to have so much fun chatting with boys online. So what if Max and Leah lied about their ages and where they lived? But when Leah disappeared, Max realized they weren't the only ones telling lies online. Through her daily journal entries, Max shares the crushing loss of Leah and her desperate efforts to move on after all that has happened.

This was an AWESOME book but also heart-wrenching. This particular story isn't true but unfortunately, kids and teens being abducted by someone they met online IS true. Sharing this story with your preteen or teen may scare them but it will hopefully scare them from sharing personal information online.

The story is believeable and includes everything that a person in this situation would go through. The before part, right after the incident, finding out bad news, going to counselling, doing bad in school because you're depressed, working with the police, working things out in your mind and coming to terms with what happened, healing and moving on.

Other Reviews: Semicolon
Thanks to Lobster Press for the book!


Psychos, Players, Punks and Pervs: How to Become the Ultimate Guy Detector by C. Dean Hall, M.S.

Stars: ****

At first look this book seems like a book for rape prevention but it is intended as more than that. Here's a quote from the publisher:

"Our research proves doctors, therapists, teachers and parents all agree that it [the book] stands apart because of its uncanny ability to engage, inform and protect girls regardless of their age or level of maturity. Our hope in publishing this book is that we may have played a small part in helping you, and the girls you love, to safely lead happy, healthy lives."

You can take a look at the Table of Contents and download some sample pages at The Guy Detector (the website for the book.) It is intended for teens to collage age but I would recommend 18 and under. I showed it to my 20 something friend who is dating and she said it was young for her. The book is more for those who haven't dated yet or haven't dated much or seriously. It has some good points although I can't say I necessarily learned anything but then I'm not the target age and I'm married so it's not like I'm dating either. I do plan on sharing it with my daughter's when they're older though.

For the sections on psychos, players, punks and pervs shows you how to spot one (e.g. Players view every female as a potential score and identify women who are insecure and need to feel loved, attractive or important.) You'll also find a story about a girl who got caught up with that type of guy (doesn't say whether it's a true story or not) and finally some advice on how to get away from that guy. The only problem with the book is it's hard to find. Amazon.com has it, Barnes and Noble and Chapters do not. You can buy it online from The Guy Detector website too.

Thanks to Inner Vista Press for a copy of this book.

Backtalk: 4 Steps to Ending Rude Behavior In Your Kids by Audrey Ricker, Ph.D and Carolyn Crowder Ph.D.

Stars: ****

This is a short, (under 200 pages,) book to help you end backtalk from your kids from preschoolers to teens. I have a back talker so I was interested in reading this book. (Fireside (S&S) 1998) It has some good points which I've implemented (when I'm not already too frustrated to do them hehe) and it's helped. I can't say it works 100% mainly because I am not doing the 4 steps all the time, properly. That's the problem with any behaviour system book... it requires you to do each and every step in order, properly or it doesn't work. This sounds easy before you have kids but once they're here, you realize it's not that simple. It does have some good points though and also includes how to deal with your children's friends who backtalk.

Green Books Campaign: The Adventures of an Aluminum Can

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.
(Logo credit: Susan Newman)

Stars: *****

Summary: Peek into this diary of an aluminum can as it goes on a journey from inside a bauxite rock under the beaches of Jamaica, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into its new life...as a baseball bat!

I think recycling is very important and that most people don't realize how important it really is. I am very happy to see this book in print, I hope it will help the next generation to learn about recycling and how important it really is.

The Adventures of an Aluminum Can is from Little Green Books at Simon & Schuster. The book itself is made from 100% postconsumer waste recycled paper. So it's about being green and was made green too!

It's a cute little story about a speck of alumina that is found under the ground and is brought to a refinery and processed into a can. It shows each step from the speck to the can and then after the can is used it's recycled and remade into something else. I won't spoil the story but what the (girl?) can is made into lasts a long time and is used by many children which makes her very happy. It's written almost like the aluminum is writing a diary. The pictures are adorable as you can probably see from the cover. I've read other pictures books on recycling but this is definitely the best.

Have a YA novel idea or manuscript? Here's your chance to get it noticed!

Get in Front of Top YA Editors and Agents with ONLY the First 250 Words of Your YA Novel!

Have a young adult novel—or a YA novel idea—tucked away for a rainy day? Are you putting off pitching your idea simply because you’re not sure how to pitch an agent? No problem! All you have to do is submit the first 250 words of your novel and you can win both exposure to editors, and a one-on-one chat with one of New York’s TOP literary agents Regina Brooks.

Regina Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency and the author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults. Brooks has been instrumental at establishing and building the careers of many YA writers, including three-time National Book Award Honoree and Michael Printz Honoree Marilyn Nelson, as well as Sundee Frazier—a Coretta Scott King Award winner, an Oprah Book Pick and an Al Roker book club selection. As an agent, she is known for her ability to turn raw talent into successful authors.

ADDITIONALLY: The top 20 submissions will all be read by a panel of five judges comprised of top YA editors at Random House, HarperCollins, Harlequin, Sourcebooks and Penguin. All 20 will receive free autographed copies of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks. Of the 20, they will pick the top five submissions and provide each author with commentary and a one year subscription to The Writer magazine. ONE Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to get feedback on a full YA manuscript and win a free 10-week writing course courtesy of the Gotham Writer’s Workshop.

Please submit all entries via the contest website at http://www.writingclasses.com/ContestPages/YAPitch.php. One entry per person; anyone age 13+ can apply. Open to the U.S. & Canada (void where prohibited). Entries for the YA Novel Discovery Contest will be accepted from 12:01am (ET) November 1 until 11:59pm (ET),

NOVEMBER IS NaNoWriMo
In honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org)—an international event where aspiring novelists are encouraged to write an entire novel in 30 days—this contest is meant to encourage the aspiring YA author to get started on that novel by offering an incentive for completing the first 250 words.

So apply now! http://bit.ly/1PYGaN

JUDGING

YA literary agent Regina Brooks, along with editors at Sourcebooks, will read all of the entries and determine the top 20 submissions. These submissions will then be read by Dan Ehrenhaft, head Acquisitions Editor at Soucebooks Fire; Alisha Niehaus, Editor at Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin); David Linker, Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books; Michele Burke, Editor at Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House); and Evette Porter, Editor at Harlequin. These judges will whittle the top 20 down to four winners and a grand prize winner—all five will be provided commentary on their submissions.

The 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene

Stars: ****

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (September 2009)
978-1402230967
Ages 4-8 32 pages

Everyone loves the 12 Days of Christmas well here is the 13 Days of Halloween. For each of the first 12 days the male creature gives the female creature a "gift" such as hissing cats, cooked worms, spiders, goblins and more. Now you can sing along as you read a Halloween song for the family. What happens on the 13th day you ask? The female gives the male a present in return.

I don't do spoilers but I will say I wasn't that happy with the ending, but that's just me. I loved the illustrations which are by Tim Raglin. They are absolutely hideous but not gruesome. My almost 4 year old doesn't like Halloween but I can see my younger one liking it when she's a bit older.

I'm glad I got a chance to review this book (Thanks Sourcebooks!) I think it would make a good book to read to a class of grade 2-3.

Other's Reviews

Diary of an Eccentric

I'm a Turkey by Jim Arnosky

Stars: *****

Summary:
An illustrated version of Jim Arnosky's "I'm a Turkey" song which he has popularized in school performances all around the U.S. If you loved Gobble It Up, you will love I'm a Turkey. (PreK-3)

This is a great Thanksgiving holiday read and it teaches a bit about turkeys too. I love the way the words flow:

"I'm a turkey, they call me Tom. I got a turkey dad and a turkey mom.
I got a turkey brother and sister too. I'm part of a flock of 102 - wild turkeys. Every one. "

The ending is really cute too. No talk about eating the turkey or anything, it says that if you ever come across a flock of turkeys it might be him so gobble so he can gobble back basically. Very cute.

The illustrations are adorable as you can see from the cover art.

You can download the song the book was made from at Scholastic.

Amazon celebrates 10th anniversary of Amazon Wish List

Amazon.com customers will be wishing big this fall as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the much-loved Amazon Wish List with 10 lavish sweepstakes.

Each week, starting this week, customers will have a chance to enter one of the themed Wish List sweepstakes. Just create, add to, or share a Wish List, and you'll be invited to enter. Learn more.

These are just some of the prizes that will be generating lots of excitement.

* Week 1 (Oct. 5-11): The Twilight Saga: New Moon Premiere Wish List-- A trip for two to Los Angeles to see the premiere
* Week 2 (Oct. 12-18): Dream Kitchen Wish List -- New appliances include a range, refrigerator, dishwasher, and espresso maker
* Week 3 (Oct. 19-25): Meet the Jonas Brothers in London Wish List -- A trip for two to London to hear the lads in concert and then meet them in person
* Week 4 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1): Kindle Love Wish List -- 10, count 'em, 10 Kindles
* Week 5 (Nov. 2-8): Ultimate Backyard Theater Wish List -- $15,000 for a backyard makeover, plus all the equipment needed to start the show
* Week 6 (Nov. 9-15): Yellowstone Photo Expedition with Canon Wish List -- A trip for two to Yellowstone National Park, and a private lesson with a professional photographer
* Week 7 (Nov. 16-22): The Magic of Disney Wish List -- A trip for four to explore the wonders of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., plus a $2,000 Disney gift card
* Week 8 (Nov. 23-29): High-Def Heaven Wish List -- A 55-inch HDTV, a Blu-ray home theater, and a Wii
* Week 9 (Nov. 30-Dec. 6): Glamorous Life Wish List -- A stunning set of 1½-carat diamond stud earrings
* Week 10 (Dec. 7-12): This one is under wraps until it launches!

You can learn more and enter for a chance to win here.

Guest Post: How to Tell If Your Family Is Out-of-Control...and How to Fix It If It Is

This post is by Scott Gale, author of Your Family Constitution:

Is my family out-of-control? Are my kids more challenging, my circumstances more difficult, or my mental wiring more loose than my neighbors, friends and colleagues’? Greg, a Southern California teacher and father of two, wrestled with these questions every day. He became convinced that his family was uniquely dysfunctional. He felt isolated and fearful, desperate and depressed. He wanted the perfect family like those whose perfect image permeated his thoughts and perpetuated his concerns.

The problem…he couldn’t answer those tough questions about his family with any sense of conviction. Confidence and family emotions changed more often than the clothes they wore. Without intimate knowledge of how other families operated, Greg could only assume the worst; that his family was somehow more messed up than all others. Anxiety set in, tainting his perception. Greg didn’t understand that all those other “perfect” families asked themselves the same question and came to the same conclusions as he did. To some, Greg’s family may even have been the “shining star” that others looked at as a bastion of health and prosperity. If only he knew the truth.

The truth…every family fits the description of “out of control” at certain moments. Every parent experiences self-doubts and challenges, both with themselves and their kids. So, behind closed doors, where all families fall flat on their face occasionally, how can any parent tell if the people they love most are “out-of-control?”

Although hindsight usually defines the magnitude of such problems, definite signs surface in the midst of chronic family “control” challenges. The first sign is lack of an identified plan or vision. To take a quality shot at developing an impressionable child into a responsible adult, parents must have a target and a path. Once Mom and Dad hit the point where they are simply reacting in a frantic attempt to “keep up”, it becomes difficult to put forth the focused effort it takes to regain control.

The reason…life inevitably speeds up. Parents optimistically think the pace will slow down as their kids get older and become more self-sufficient. This common myth almost invariably proves untrue as careers, activities, and societal pressures overwhelm families as they grow and evolve. In the face of diminishing time and growing tension, families don’t often take the time to evaluate the approach, inadvertently choosing to react to circumstances and accept shortcomings instead.

The second sign is that negative emotion begins to interfere with everyday family interactions. As arguments arise more frequently, human tendency causes parents and kids alike to fall into a defensive stance, paving the way for further tension and confrontation. Greg and his son Jeff argued incessantly, not because of lack of love or respect, but because of poor communication patterns and associated frustration on both sides damaged their ability to rectify even the smallest of problems.

The unfortunate truth is that Greg’s expectations, or lack thereof, bred confusion. He took Jeff’s failure to demonstrate responsibility as lack of motivation and consideration, rather than lack of clarity and consistency. Jeff perceived Greg’s blind attempts to teach responsibility as calculated attacks designed to pick on him unfairly, and intentionally. They went round and round in circles until their mutual desire to enjoy a healthy father-son relationship became overshadowed by emotional barriers.

The third sign is that a family repeatedly has communication failures. Once again, all families will have some communication challenges, but it is a continual pattern of misunderstanding that is most concerning. When people struggle to communicate, the natural reaction is to stop sharing feelings and ideas. This leads to poor coordination, unstated expectations, inefficiency and isolation. Greg’s biggest breakthrough came when he recognized his family’s need to meet regularly...even if they had nothing specific to talk about. They used this forum to share ideas and concerns, plan and prioritize efforts, hold each other accountable to the structure they created together, and most importantly, enjoy each other’s company.

The final sign, a significant gap between actions priorities, is more clandestine, requiring true introspection to uncover. For years, Greg worked very long hours to provide for his family, impairing his emotional availability to his family. When he finally took the time to examine his priorities, he realized there was conflict and contradiction between his choices and his core values. Introspection is hard, but it changed Greg’s life and the course of his family. Greg’s began to coach his children’s teams, to get home in time to eat with his family, and to plan activities for the weekends. His career didn’t suffer because he was more balanced and energetic; however, he and his family came to connect on a level which they had not experienced before...family bliss.

So, what can a family do if it exhibits some or all of the signs of being out of control? The short answer...exercise the 3C’s (clarity, consistency, and commitment) to wrap clear boundaries and incentives around a family’s most important core values. Clarity and consistency will foster shared expectations and respect for boundaries. Clear understanding of family rules, combined with appropriate rewards and consequences, motivates parents and kids alike to stay within the structure. Arguments cease because of the predetermined outcome of certain choices and behaviours.

Although it would be nice if clarity and consistency could make all problems go away completely, it is not the case. Whether it be a new issue that arises or a temporary deviation from the rules, the fortitude of the structure will be tested from time to time. As long as a family recognizes that issues will continue to arise and that adjustments will be made, then the commitment to steady improvement will prevail and positive momentum will be preserved. The system won’t fail, as long as family members stay committed to continually evolving. When someone slips up...don’t declare a failed experiment and throw away vital structure. Instead, evaluate what went wrong, make adjustments to the rules if necessary, and continue to allow core values guide your family’s efforts. It works...it just takes time and the 3C’s.

The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Stars: *****

Summary: When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast. As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

WOW! I received an ARC copy of this book from Good Reads. It's the first YA novel by the bestselling authors of The Nanny Diaries. I've been focusing on nonfiction so much lately I haven't read much YA but I'm glad I did. Although this book is for 14 and up, I think any young adult (up to 26 maybe) would enjoy it too. The characters live in The Hamptons of New York so their families either work near the rich and famous or work for the rich and famous (like cleaning their houses.) As the only "celebrity" I've ever met is Robert Munsch*, I can't relate personally to this lifestyle. However the characters of Jesse and Drew, except for seeing celebrities around town, are a bit more like me.

The summary seemed interesting, especially since I watch reality TV. I know it's not all real as they do makeup and wardrobe and change things to make sure people want to watch the show (like showing certain parts and not others etc..) but if reality TV is really like this book, I don't ever want to watch another reality show again. I wasn't in tears at the end but I had a terrible look on my face that would tell anyone seeing the face that I was horrified. I would never spoil an ending but I must say that this wasn't a "oh that's so horrible thank goodness it's a book" look but a "oh that's so horrible, this is happening to me, I'm the main character.. oh wait, no I'm not, it's just a book" look. In case anyone can't understand that, what I mean is, the book was so good, especially near the end, that I felt I was in it. This, to me, is what makes a fiction book a 5 star book. When I have to remind myself that it's just a book, it's a good book.

Something else that makes the book unique, is that instead of Chapter 1 or Chapter 4 it's Reel 1 and Reel 4 and then later it changes and the last chapter heading changes again. They all make sense with the storyline.

I thought the characters were well thought out. I learned a lot about each one and we are shown things later on that we wondered about at the beginning. We see them at their best and their worst and everywhere in between. It is because of this that one character that I didn't like in the beginning, I ended up liking (and I think you will too.)

* Don't get me wrong, Robert Munsch is an awesome author, I just mean, that's one out of how many famous people???

Others Reviews
Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
Garden of Books (For Teens)

Interesting Links

I was surfing the web and found these...

Gather No Dust: Libraries, Management & Technology
- a blog of interest to those into libraries, especially American ones

100 Awesome Bookhacks for Students & Bibliphiles
- 100 interesting ideas, things to do/make or websites to make use of

Your Family Constitution by Scott Gale

Stars: ****

Subtitle: A Modern Approach to Family Values and Household Structure

Summary: Your Family Constitution guides the reader through a personalized journey of introspection, visioning, household observation, prioritization, and ultimately the creation of manageable boundaries coupled with consistent rewards and consequences. The product of their labor is a Family Constitution, a clear and consistent set of rules customized to the needs and circumstances of their household.

I originally got this book through Bostick Communications but then signed up for a book tour through Pump Up Your Book Promotion. I'm not American and Canadians don't have a constitution but I knew the basics of what it meant and figured (correctly) that the information in the book would be useful to anyone, no matter where they live.

I've read books that include help on making chore charts or talks about family meetings but this is by far the best book on household structure I've seen. The front of the book says it's a step-by-step guide to:

"Reconnecting with your kids, anticipating and resolving common family issues, enhancing family communication and enjoying parenting to the fullest."

The author, Scott Gale starts by telling a story of his Black Sunday. It's basically when everything in his family his rock bottom and he realized something needed to change. He slowly came up with this idea of a family constitution and it came together. He tried it out, scrapped it and tried again and with his family's help eventually altered it to come up with what they have now. His family constitution is in the back of the book for inspiration and guidance. He explains why you can't just use his. It's not just about chores and rewards but also about house rules (for parents too), way to manage common problems (in the Gale household it's sharing TV and video games) and ways to keep the system working (such as monthly and yearly meetings and family input.)

The book is set up simply so that you can find the part you need if you are referring back to it and you're never unsure about what's being talked about. Also the book is littered with funny comics depicting situations being talked about. There are tons of the cartoons and they are pretty funny. I laughed out loud at a few of them. There are also a couple of hand-drawn cartoons of his family which are great too. The comics and cartoons make the book a bit light-hearted, even when it's tackling difficult issues.

The best part of the book is that he doesn't just tell you WHAT to do, he tells you how he did it, why he did it and what happened when he tried to put it into place. Not everything worked at first which is why he stresses working together to come up with your plan.

Tomorrow I'll share a guest post from the author. In the meantime, you can buy Your Family Constitution for your very own.

Guest Post: Inspiration From a Smile by Tim Whitney

Tim Whitney is the author of Thanksgiving At the Inn. More details after the story.

Back in the spring of 1983 I was a 'typical' cocky high school senior, counting the days until I could escape my small home town and run off to college in Boston. My last hurdle before graduation was a volunteer project called the 'May Project' where we had to choose a community service to perform and then write a paper. As an athlete and captain of the swim team, I volunteered for the YMCA and the Boy's Club as a counselor. But the Jesuits had a little surprise for me. Instead of giving me a project in my comfort zone, they assigned me to a school for handicapped children.

I'll be honest, I led a very sheltered life and had never really been exposed to handicapped children, let alone autistic children. At the time the cases of autism were far fewer than they are today and I was so naive that I did not even know the difference between artistic and autistic. The overall experience was totally overwhelming and I went home exhausted every day. From gaining an appreciation for special needs teachers and parents to developing an incredible appreciation for so many things I had taken for granted in my life it was an amazing, humbling, and enlightening experience. It was a pivotal tim e in my life that changed my perspective on the many things I should be grateful for in life.

On the last day there, I was asked to spend time with a little girl in the class that was severely handicapped, both physically and mentally. Somehow I had managed to become her favorite and her smile touched my heart. We went out on the swings, enjoyed the beautiful spring day, and she spoke to me in basic sign language. Later that day as class was ending, the teachers thanked me for spending my time with her and how much it had meant. Then they let me know she only had a matter of weeks to live. I can still picture that day, the smile on her face, and the range of emotions that swept me up like a rogue wave pulling a drowning swimmer out to sea.

I tell this story because it changed my perspective on life and her smile still etched in my memory 25 years later, was in part the inspiration for my book. We all h ave two choices in life- to be grateful for everything we have, or be bitter for everything we don't. The little girl's smile has been a calibration point for my life. With so much adversity in her life, she still had a smile on her face, love in her heart and an appreciation for everyone around her. I learned more about life, gratitude, humility, and laughter in that month than I had in the previous18 years. When I wrote Thanksgiving at the Inn, I wanted to share this message and other life lessons I've learned along the way in hope that I could help someone else realize that we all have so much we take for granted when we should be thankful.

Inspiration takes many forms and for each of us it's unique. For me, it all started with a little girl's smile.

Wishing you a thankful holiday season,

Tim Whitney
Author of Thanksgiving At the Inn

Horrid Henry Continues His Reign of Mischief... (and a giveaway!)

Horrid Henry's Underpants by Francesca Simon
Stars: ****


Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter by Francesca Simon
Stars: ****

Back in June I reviewed the first four Horrid Henry books to come to America from the UK. They are hilariously funny for me and my nieces, who are more in the targeted age for the books.

As of September 2009 there are three more Horrid Henry titles to collect, two of which I was able to review and the third which I will be giving away. [GIVEAWAY CLOSED]

Here's what happens in these two new books.

In Horrid Henry's Underpants, Horrid Henry makes a deal with his parents in return for eating his veggies; accidentally wears girls' underwear to school; tries to prove he is sicker than his brother; and writes the meanest thank-you cards ever (and makes money on it too.)

In Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter, Horrid Henry encounters the worst babysitter in the world; traumatizes his parents on a long car trip; goes trick-or-treating at Halloween (with disastrous results); and emerges victorious from a raid on Moody Margaret's Secret Club.

The stories were funny from an adult's point of view because they seem true. Each story is about something that could possibly happen. Parents of kids 5+ may recognize their own kids in the second story in Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter (about the long trip)

I think the author and illustrator have something great going and that Horrid Henry will become more well-known then Junie B. Jones. The joy is, that Horrid Henry is liked by both boys AND girls. The books lists ages 7-10 but my 12-year-old niece loves them too.

GIVEAWAY (North America Only)

The Giveaway is now closed. Congrats Angela C.

Short Review of Many Books

I don't like doing this because I feel I owe a full review to those who sent me books to review but I read these all months ago and got behind on reviews and I just don't remember enough about them to write full length reviews. That's part of why it's taken me so long to get to them. If I don't write some short reviews, I'll never catch up.

Understand that just because I'm putting a bunch of short reviews in one post, doesn't mean these books weren't good or weren't memorable.

Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist's Memoir by Daniel J. Tomasulo
Stars: ****

This book is exactly what it sounds like, a memoir of a therapist's life from thinking eating seeds will make him pregnant to accidentally locking himself in a psych ward rubber room. Hilarious!

You can read a small excerpt of the book at the author's website.


Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter
Stars: ****

I think most people have heard of this book by now. You can read all about the most famous library cat and all his adventures in the book. You can also check out the webpage. I really enjoyed the book although I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would because it's not only about Dewey but about the library and the people who run the library too and I guess I felt it should be only about the cat.

Not Remembered Never Forgotten: An adoptee's search for his birth family by Robert Hafetz
Stars: ****

This is a true story, not too long at only about 130 pages. I enjoyed reading it though. The idea behind the title is that although he doesn't remember his birth parents, he's never forgotten them. I think it's quite a poignant title.
A quote from the introduction about why he wrote the book:

"One pictures the smiling baby held by his adopted mother, hugged, nurtured, cherished and kept safe from harm. My adopted family loved me as their own. I coudln't have asked for better parents. What more could a human being ever want? Their love and affection sustains me, and gives me what I need to grow and survive but it doesn't replace what has been lost. I want what others have; a name given at birth, a heritage, and a memory of my mother's face. " - pg. 8

I've read quite a few adoption books, from all different points of view (the adopter, the adoptee, the birth parents) but this is the first one that really made it clear why an adoptee may not be content with not knowing his or her birth parents, no matter how much he or she loves the adopted parents.


Outside the Lavender Closet by Martha A. Taylor
Stars: ***1/2

This is a collection of stories about homosexual women (I don't really like that term but not sure what is the preferred term, hope I haven't offended anyone.) It's really more than that though. The author wanted to get some answers to the age old questions such as "What is it that makes us straight or gay? and Are relationships between two women really all that different than heterosexual ones?"

The stories were mostly quite interesting. One was a bit too long but for the most part, I learned a lot about women to women relationships and it was very interesting. I realize this book is not for everyone but I feel like it helped me to understand these women more.

GIVEAWAY: The 3 books in The Coping Series by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

All this week I've been reviewing the books in The Coping Series, great picture books for children with learning disabilities or for kids wanting to learn more about them, either in schoolrooms or by themselves. These would make great additions to a school or public library.

I'm giving away all three of the books, to three different winners. (North America only, sorry) All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with an email address and you're entered. You can read all about the books via the links below. If you are only interested in one or two of them, please mention that in your comment.

The Don't-give-Up Kid
Eagle Eyes
Houdini's Gift

Winners will be contacted by me for your mailing address which I'll forward to Verbal Images Press, the publisher. Your address will not be saved after they've sent your book. All non-winners will receive a one-time encouraging message via email. Your email addresses will not be saved and you will not receive any more correspondence from that after that.

Giveaway is open for 2 weeks, until Oct 2/09 so enter now!