This is a silly story about a little boy with a grocery list of four items who proceeds to confuse the items on his list with other items that he seesThis is a silly story about a little boy with a grocery list of four items who proceeds to confuse the items on his list with other items that he sees along the way.
The fact that the young child is allowed to walk about town and go shopping on his own is completely alien to our girls, but I know that it was much more common when the story was first published in 1976.
Overall, it's a fun tale and we enjoyed listening to Larry Robinson narrate the story on CD while we followed along with the book.
October 2017: Listened to a friend read this book out loud to her seven-year-old son during a relaxing vacation weekend at the lake.
Merged review:
This is a silly story about a little boy with a grocery list of four items who proceeds to confuse the items on his list with other items that he sees along the way.
The fact that the young child is allowed to walk about town and go shopping on his own is completely alien to our girls, but I know that it was much more common when the story was first published in 1976.
Overall, it's a fun tale and we enjoyed listening to Larry Robinson narrate the story on CD while we followed along with the book.
October 2017: Listened to a friend read this book out loud to her seven-year-old son during a relaxing vacation weekend at the lake....more
This picture book introduces a new generation of younger children to Auggie, the popular main character in R.J. Palacio's award-winning book, Wonder.
TThis picture book introduces a new generation of younger children to Auggie, the popular main character in R.J. Palacio's award-winning book, Wonder.
The short repetitive sentences will appeal to younger children and those who are beginning to read. And the colorful illustrations also tell the story, which is helpful for
I love that story depicts Auggie as a child who has the same feelings as any other child, and one enjoys doing many of the same things as other children do, even if his disability limits him sometimes and gives him more challenges to overcome.
R.J. Palacio illustrated the book digitally herself, with a note that she "based Auggie's look in this picture book on the iconic jacket for Wonder, which was art-directed by Isabel Warren-Lynch and beautifully envisioned and drawn by the artistic wonder Tad Carpenter."
interesting quote:
"Look with kindness and you will always find wonder."...more
I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when I learned that Al Franken had won the Senate seat in Minnesota back in 2009. I was concerned that it wI have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when I learned that Al Franken had won the Senate seat in Minnesota back in 2009. I was concerned that it was another case of a celebrity using his name recognition to break into the political scene and hoped that he took his job seriously.
As he matured in the Senate, handily winning reelection, I discovered that he was the real deal. I have been very impressed, especially in the last year or so, with the thoughtful and probing questions he has posed to political appointment nominees as well as the diligence he has displayed in championing for or against legislation.
He has proven to be a serious politician and an ardent supporter of the causes he feels are right. He is willing to challenge the status quo and does not shy away from hard questions. So when I discovered that this audiobook was on our local library's OverDrive website, I put it on hold immediately.
So, now that he has fallen prey to the scandals that have plagued the more powerful men in politics, Hollywood, and industry and has declared his intention to resign his position, I finally got my turn to borrow the book. What timing.
I can't say that I was overly surprised at the accusations leveled against him. After all, he spent years writing and performing comedy sketches, most visibly on Saturday Night Live, where the boundaries of propriety and good taste are routinely pushed to the edge.
Despite the fact that many of the accusations could be potentially chalked up to poor decisions and bad humor, I didn't want to dismiss them out of hand. After watching the way Anita Hill was treated in the early 1990s, I am a proponent of believing a person who is brave enough to come forward after a potentially traumatic event. #IBelieveHer
Nevertheless, I wasn't entirely convinced that he was guilty of behavior that would substantiate his resignation, and certainly nothing equal to that of some of the others who have been accused in our government (view spoiler)[like, for example, our sitting President (hide spoiler)].
In fact, I applauded the fact that he owned his poor behavior and welcomed an ethics investigation, and I was honestly disappointed that he felt that he was driven out before the results of the investigation came to light.
Should he have quit? Probably...maybe...I don't know, and I don't think anyone else does either, really.
Was he a sacrificial lamb? Probably...maybe...I don't know, and I don't think anyone else does either, really.
So, despite my overwhelming disappointment in the entire situation, I was still very interested in hearing what he had to say. And I love that he narrates the audiobook - I can hear the passion, the dedication, and the intelligence he brought to the Senate.
No matter what happens, I hope that he finds a productive avenue to channel his strengths and his energy. (view spoiler)[Maybe he can't be a Senator, but apparently he is still qualified to be President... (hide spoiler)]
I thought it was fascinating that today's headlines have mentioned that 50% of Minnesotans don't want Senator Franken to go through with his resignation, and that his approval ratings are as high as 53%, a level of popularity that most politicians would love to have.
I guess only time will tell what will happen with his political career, but I hope that he can find peace with his accusers and find a way to be as effective as possible, either within Congress or from outside of it.
If he leaves on 2 January 2018, I will be sad because I know that he is the kind of legislator who works hard to do his job and actually run our country. And if he leaves over this controversy, I hope that the bar will be set such that others who have been accused of the same behavior (or worse) will be held to the same standard.
interesting quotes (page numbers from hardcover edition with ISBN13 9781455540419):
"Today's Congress is a polarized, dysfunctional body, rendered helpless by partisanship, more focused on scoring short-term political points than on solving our nation's urgent problems. In short, the Washington of the past decade has been awash in nincompoopery." (p. 2)
"They tell you in this country that you have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. And we all believe that. But first you’ve got to have the boots. And the federal government gave Franni’s family the boots." (p. 8)
"So SNL wasn't the place to push my own personal political agenda. I saved that for my son's Little League practices." (p. 41)
"Anyway, here's the thing you need to understand about Ted Cruz. I like Ted Cruz more than most of my other colleagues like Ted Cruz. And I hate Ted Cruz." (p. 293)
"But I really think that if we don’t start caring about whether people tell the truth or not, it’s going to be literally impossible to restore anything approaching a reasonable political discourse. Politicians have always shaded the truth. But if you can say something that is provably false, and no one cares, then you can’t have a real debate about anything." (p. 375)
Beginning readers will likely enjoy reading this book, with its repetitions, large fonts, and small amounts of narrative on most pages.
The watercolor and pencil illustrations are cartoonish, with water blotched backgrounds. I enjoyed reading this tale and I loved the images of the various family members, but I prefer the original story more....more
With a short, rhyming narrative and illustrations created with Alkyd oil paint with crackling varnish, this book gives the appearance of an old tale. With a short, rhyming narrative and illustrations created with Alkyd oil paint with crackling varnish, this book gives the appearance of an old tale. The narrative combines some space science concepts with astrology and finishes with the birth of Jesus. Overall, it's a good story to read at Christmas, but may not catch the attention of very young children....more
Whenever I feel down about our current political climate, I like to watch some videos like this one and this one and even this one to put a smile on mWhenever I feel down about our current political climate, I like to watch some videos like this one and this one and even this one to put a smile on my face and give me a glimmer of hope (view spoiler)[that one day we will again have a President who can speak in full and coherent sentences (hide spoiler)].
So, when I saw this audiobook available on our local library's Overdrive site, I was eager to listen to more humor, even if it is a bit dated at this point.
The audiobook features a full cast and it's entertaining to hear the numerous imitations of the major political players in Washington D.C. of the time. The voices are very recognizable and I chuckled at many of the jokes.
interesting quotes (page numbers from hardcover edition with ISBN13 9780062399793):
[Rahm] "Emanuel: 'Scott Brown used to be a model. He looked like every type of douchebag guy who fucks a girl and then doesn't call her the next day. Unfortunately, Massachusetts is known for having the most douchebags per capita of any state in the union.' [Mitt] Romney: 'The douchebag is our state bird. I know, it doesn't make sense to me, either.'" (p. 166)
"[Hillary] 'I've been waiting for men to get out of my way ever since I started menopause. It was finally my turn.'" (p. 322)
That's probably not the best criteria for choosing a book, but I was in the mood for a humorous book and it was available on audiobook from our local library. But I don't remember hearing of the author before, and I had never seen her blog, bitches gotta eat.
So, I have to admit that I was not completely prepared for the fast-paced humor and snarky wit that Samantha Irby brings to this book. I love that she narrates her own audiobook, so I could get the full effect of her comedic timing and nuanced humor.
Despite the fact that I'm a middle-aged woman with a husband and two teenage daughters, a small-town girl who probably has more book smarts than street smarts, I had to chuckle at many of her anecdotes.
Even though I haven't been in the dating pool since the early 1990s (and hope to never be there again), I really enjoyed her dating stories and angst over finding the right person.
I also applaud her strong female voice and her comfort in her own skin. She does not apologize for her disability, her size, her tastes, or her love-hate relationship with the stray kittens she fosters/adopts. Many people take decades to overcome being self-conscious and many others never do.
Overall, I really enjoyed this memoir, as much for the laughs as for her insights into contemporary society.
interesting quotes (page numbers from edition with ISBN13 9781101912195):
"No one ever tells attractive children how much they suck, and then the rest of us get stuck with insufferable, narcissistic adults who can barely tie their shoes because someone else is busy either doing it for them or congratulating them on their effort. I do not have the energy to be in a relationship with somebody exceptionally good-looking." (p. 9)
"Those people, the 'No-TV, Eat at the Dinner Table, Get Your News from a Reputable Source Other Than Facebook' people, are terrifying to me." (p. 131) Ouch.
"I learned how to operate under both the physical and emotional weight of unrelenting shame very early. Fat babies are adorable, while fat children are a little less so. Fat teenagers are chided into either end of the eating-disorder spectrum, and fat adults are either admonished for not figuring out how to get new bodies during adolescence or straight up dismissed altogether." (p. 168)
"I wasn’t sure how to appropriately eulogize a dude who had once punched me in the face for washing the dishes wrong, and it really never even occurred to me that I might write something down for the occasion." (p. 181)
"Real love feels less like a throbbing, pulsing animal begging for its freedom and beating against the inside of my chest and more like, “Hey, that place you like had fish tacos today and I got you some while I was out,” as it sets a bag spotted with grease on the dining room table...This feels safe, and steadfast, and predictable. And secure. It's boring as shit. And it's easily the best thing I've ever felt." (p.193)
"Fifty out of the 168 hours of my week are spent mad because work is interfering with all the Internet articles I’m trying to read, forty-nine are spent trying to get some sleep if I’m lucky, ten are spent suffering through some sort of commuting nightmare, eight are pure panicking, eleven are brooding, and the last forty are eating shitting writing reading watching wishing hoping and hating." (p. 207)
"But I was 22 when I started this job, and you know what? Sometimes it really is okay to just have a fucking job. Not a passion, not a career, but a steadfast source of bi-weekly income deposited directly into a checking account from which food, and medicine, and apps one totally forgot about having downloaded will be paid for." (p. 249)
"...because, honest to God, I would rather eat my own teeth than suffer any more humiliating human contact." (p.270)...more
Perhaps my judgment is biased by the dated technology and dialogue. The book was first published over twenty years ago. I guess IGood, but not great.
Perhaps my judgment is biased by the dated technology and dialogue. The book was first published over twenty years ago. I guess I could start thinking of it as 'historical fiction' soon?
Maybe the story just didn't have any feeling of closure. I looked to see if it was the first book in a series, but unless I'm missing something, I don't think it is.
Or perhaps I'm just too impressed with more recent books like The Crossover and The Hate U Give. I believe their relevance and appeal to teens today is so much greater.
Still, it is a good story, and I enjoyed listening to Thomas Penny narrating the audio CDs, evendors if my listening was greatly interrupted by many days of staying inside and not driving anywhere, since I only listened to it in my car. ...more
This is a very thoughtful, sincere, and emotion-laden memoir, kind of an adult follow-up to Mr. Alexie's YA best-seller, The Absolutely True Diary of This is a very thoughtful, sincere, and emotion-laden memoir, kind of an adult follow-up to Mr. Alexie's YA best-seller, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
It touches upon many of the events and topics covered in that book, but told from the perspective of a more mature, wiser, and reflective man who has the distance of years from the original experiences.
I appreciate this story, laying bare many of the author's fears and insecurities, exploring his feelings about the relationships he's had and evaluating the consequences of decisions he's made over several decades.
Sherman Alexie narrates the audiobook himself and I am very glad that I heard it from him in his own voice, his own tempo, and hearing him use changing dialects depending on the situation he's describing.
The book is very emotionally charged and people who have experienced trauma in their own lives may have difficulties with some of the topics he discusses. As in his other works, he does not shy away from tough subjects and is able to work through some of them through verse, some of them with repetitive chanting, and others by simply telling a story.
It would be hard to say that I really enjoyed listening to this story, but I am very grateful that I've had the opportunity to do so. I know that I've gained an even greater appreciation for the challenges that Mr. Alexie had to overcome and the tough decisions he had to make along his journey....more
This is an entertaining library-themed version of the classic story, The Night Before Christmas. The story is more for adults (librarians, in particulThis is an entertaining library-themed version of the classic story, The Night Before Christmas. The story is more for adults (librarians, in particular) than for children, with many of the book and author references reflecting classic literature for adults.
The illustrations are humorous and have nice details. I actually got our girls to sit down with me so we could read it together, and they are old enough to appreciate the humor and many of the references.
Overall, it was a fun read and we all really enjoyed it, but I'm not sure how much it would appeal to younger children.
Our girls were quick to point out when the rhymes didn't quite work, but on the whole it was a witty take on the story and I was thrilled to be able to read it on Christmas Eve....more
We've read many of the books in the You Wouldn't Want To... series. I like that they tackle serious scientific topics in a somewhat humorous and tonguWe've read many of the books in the You Wouldn't Want To... series. I like that they tackle serious scientific topics in a somewhat humorous and tongue-in-cheek way.
The book discusses the science of extreme weather - different kinds of weather events and the way they affect the global environment, along with a few different ways they are measured and evaluated.
I thought the title of this book was a bit less obvious than other books in the series. Extreme weather sounds like a bad thing and many times it is.
But humans have been able to adapt to and even benefit from some extreme climatological changes, such as monsoon rains and flooding.
I really enjoyed reading this book and will look for more of the books in this series at our local library....more
This is the fourth book in the Jedi Academy series.
The first three tales featuring Roan were created originally by Jeffrey Brown, but now, with 'A NeThis is the fourth book in the Jedi Academy series.
The first three tales featuring Roan were created originally by Jeffrey Brown, but now, with 'A New Class,' of Jedi students, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, of Lunch Lady fame, has adopted the series.
As in the first three books, I liked the different characters and the candid expression of emotions in Victor's journal.
I've never been a fan of Ewoks or Gungan characters and both are included in this book. I hate to admit it, but I was quite irritated by the amount of narrative (both dialogue and newspaper advice columns) that Ms. Catara has. It's quite irritating.
The story has a Diary of a Wimpy Kid-meets-Star Wars-kind of feel, with fun graphic-novel illustrations interspersed throughout the narrative.
Overall, it was an interesting read and a new beginning of stories featuring a different group of kids. I'm getting a bit weary of the series, but it still seems to be quite popular with the kids....more
It's a creepy (but sorta funny?) tale about summer camp (view spoiler)[ that involves children being turned into incubators for an alien racUm. weird.
It's a creepy (but sorta funny?) tale about summer camp (view spoiler)[ that involves children being turned into incubators for an alien race (hide spoiler)]. The story is compelling from the beginning, but seems to really lose steam as the plot progresses.
It almost seems as though the author didn't really know where to go with the story, so decided to end it rather abruptly (and, in my opinion, unsatisfyingly).
While the story itself is appropriate for middle grade-age children, other reviewers have pointed out that the narrative contains several pejorative words, bullying, and verbally abusive relationships between parent and child. Overall, it does not paint a nice picture of the children's lives, but that might be the point.
Still, the illustrations are wonderful and bring out the disturbing Stepford Wives-like atmosphere at the camp. I enjoyed the book, but wished it had been developed a bit more....more
This graphic novel offers a dramatic dystopian view of society and contains some mature themes, especially violence. The narrative is a bit disjointedThis graphic novel offers a dramatic dystopian view of society and contains some mature themes, especially violence. The narrative is a bit disjointed in places, and not having read the series, I had to reread several of the panels to make sure I understood what exactly was going on.
Still, I was engaged by the story and I'm interested in reading the original stories, too. Our oldest has read the whole series and highly recommends it. She's a big fan of Marie Lu's stories....more
This is an informative book about the history of espionage and the techniques used in spycraft. The book contains five short chapters with many colorfThis is an informative book about the history of espionage and the techniques used in spycraft. The book contains five short chapters with many colorful photographs.
It also includes an epilogue, a glossary, an index, and several pages of resources for those who want to learn more about the topic.
It's a fast read and will likely appeal to elementary school-age children, especially those who are fascinated by spies. I enjoyed reading it, but our girls weren't very interested as it was 'for younger kids.'...more
Wow. This is a very engaging and thoughtful story wrapped in an amazing and detailed illustrative package.
I couldn't put it down, and I was thrilled Wow. This is a very engaging and thoughtful story wrapped in an amazing and detailed illustrative package.
I couldn't put it down, and I was thrilled to see that the next book in the series, The Stone Heart, is available at our local library. I can't wait to read it next....more
Evoking a sense of nostalgia for an older age and a simpler time, this book shows the craftsmanship and pride that went into every basket woven by theEvoking a sense of nostalgia for an older age and a simpler time, this book shows the craftsmanship and pride that went into every basket woven by the Taghkanic families in New York.
I borrowed the book because I knew it had been illustrated by Barbara Cooney, a famous children's book illustrator who lived in my hometown for many years.
When reading picture books, I always look to see how the illustrations were created. I was very interested to see that her typical oil pastel and acrylic illustrations had been created on China silk and acetate.
Overall, it's a sweet story of a young boy as he was growing up and coming into his own as a tradesman. The narrative is short and the illustrations really help to tell the story. It's a quiet story and would do well for reading at bedtime....more
This is a wonderfully intricate tale, perfect for reading on a cold (and snowy, if possible) day just before Christmas.
The narrative is engaging and This is a wonderfully intricate tale, perfect for reading on a cold (and snowy, if possible) day just before Christmas.
The narrative is engaging and the myriad puzzles and mysteries will keep the reader guessing until the end.
I really enjoyed listening to Henry Coffey Chris narrate the story on aydiobook, even if I had to relisten to several parts because I was confused.
Our oldest had discovered this book and recommended it highly, but it took me ages to get around to reading it.
In fact, I know that the sequel, Ghosts of Greenglass House has already been published, so I am eager to continue with the tale.
I love that Kate Milford intentionally wrote Milo's character as an adopted boy with Chinese heritage, based on her family's own desire to adopt a child from China.
In her own way, she created a story that entertains, but also tells her child that the questions and feelings adopted children have are natural and completely acceptable. It's a wonderful way to send a message without creating a fuss or an awkward moment.
But the thing that is even better about Milo's background is that it is incidental to the story. (view spoiler)[
I pretty much expected that somehow Milo's birth family would be revealed as part of the mystery, which is typical for a children's book.
But I really came to understand that it would put his adoption front and center, which was not the author's intent.
Milo's character as an adopted child is an integral part if who he is, but not the entirety of the story.
Knowing who gave birth to him and why he was abandoned as an infant is not the point of this book and for all we know, may never be revealed. (hide spoiler)]
Milo is simply an inquisitive and imaginative only child of loving parents who is very good at finding things and makes a good friend along the way.
Overall, I found this story to be very timeless and charming and I love that technology is conspicuously absent. It's a great tale to read wrapped up in a blanket in front of the Christmas tree, perhaps with a purring cat in your lap. ...more
This book introduces the reader to a famous couple in the art world, Christo Vladimirov Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude (née Denat). The story tells of thThis book introduces the reader to a famous couple in the art world, Christo Vladimirov Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude (née Denat). The story tells of their early years and Christo's eventual rise to fame through his passion of wrapping objects as art.
Although many of their art exhibitions are depicted through myriad colorful photographs captioned with the specifics of the location and theme of the exhibit, the focus is on the sixteen-day installation called The Gates, in February, 2005. It was comprised of 7503 vinyl gates placed throughout 23 miles of park pathways in Central Park, New York City. From each gate hung saffron-colored fabric, creating a vibrant orange trail and reminded me of the torii gates in Japan.
Neither of our girls were interested in this book, and I get the feeling that it would not fly off the shelves in school, except perhaps for those students who are passionate about art. It's the kind of book created for children, but appealing mainly to adults.
interesting quotes:
"Jeanne Claude says, 'Artists paint apples because they have the urge to paint apples. And if people like the art, that's a bonus." (p. 11)
"We were never poor, we were just temporarily without money." (p.15)
"All of our projects have this fragile quality. They will be gone tomorrow. They have total freedom. That is why they cannot stay. Because freedom is the enemy of possession and possession is equal to permanence. We have to have freedom with no strings attached." (p. 21)
"Usually the artists return a site to its original condition, but this time they improved it by removing 40 tons of garbage." (p. 27)...more
Loading...
