Everything for a Dog

Did you ever read A Dog's Life? Ever wonder what happened to Squirrel's brother, Stone? The last time we saw him he was being carried away from the mall parking lot he and his sister were dumped in. Thankfully, Ann Martin has written Everything for a Dog, where we learn exactly what happened. I wish I could say he immediately ended up in a nice home where he lived happily ever after but then it would be a short book. Told in three voices, Everything for a Dog celebrates perseverance, both boy and canine.

Looking for Calvin and Hobbes by Nevin Martell

I can't tell you how often a student comes into the Media Center looking for a Calvin and Hobbes book - a boy and his tiger who we have not seen for fourteen years continues to entertain kids of all ages. Nevin Martell grew up on Calvin and Hobbes; he has very fond memories of reading the strip every morning while he ate his cereal and now that he's a writer decided to find out what exactly happened to the cartoonist, Bill Watterson who created the strip and why after ten glorious years (for us) he decided to walk away.

Looking for Calvin and Hobbes is a book for adults; a book that covers a whole lot of ground. Watterson never gave an interview to Martell so Martell interviewed other cartoonists about the reluctant legend. Put simply, Watterson walked away in 1995, disgruntled and disillusioned. What Martell describes is fascinating on a number of different levels - it is an intimate look at how cartoonists create characters; the cut throat environment of syndication and the power of the almighty dollar (did you know Charles Schultz earned 30 to 40 million dollars a year towards the end of his career).

Is it enough to say Watterson is a tortured artist? Probably not but if it is that simple then we are all the more lucky to have been gifted for ten delightful years.

A Blizzard of Books

One thing this weekend's snowstorm was good for was plenty of reading. I have three to recommend for the 8 - 10 year old set. All three charming and good fun, with a little bit of sibling rivalry thrown in.

Chicken Feathers by Joy Cowley is quite simply the story of a boy and his pet chicken, Semolina. Semolina isn't your run of the mill chicken either. She talks - but only to Josh and she likes her whisky. Josh has his own stuff to deal with - his pregnant mom is in the hospital on bed rest; his neighbor may have a new boyfriend and his grandmother doesn't like chickens in the house. Reading Chicken Feathers is a thoroughly delightful way to spend a winter afternoon.

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies tells the story of a brother and sister. Born 14 months apart, Evan and Jesse are each other's best friend...until the letter from school arrives towards the end of the summer. Evan gets angry, Jesse reacts and suddenly there's a bet about who can sell the most lemonade. Will Evan's outgoing personality outsell the very deliberate business plan Jesse has drawn up? Wondering what the letter from school said? Read The Lemonade War to find out.

Star Jumper - Journal of a Cardboard Genius by Frank Asche chronicles the very vivid imagination of Alex as he builds a cardboard spaceship in an attempt to escape the trials of living with his little brother. As Alex often reminds us, Einstein has nothing on him.

U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

I LOVE Sue Grafton. I LOVE her private investigator, Kinsey Millhone. I wait and wait for each new book and then when it arrives I savor it. Oh sure, I want desperately to dive right in and read until I'm done but I don't. I read a chapter or two and then go and do something. Come back and read some more. I just don't want the book to end. If you have never read a Sue Grafton mystery go find A is for Alibi and start.

In U is for Undertow, it's 1988; Kinsey still uses a typewriter to record her reports, still uses index cards to organize her investigations, still heads to the public library to search microfiche. There is a terrific mystery and Grafton artfully tells a story that started in the 1960s. Great character development; great plot; good, clean fun.

Websites to Checkout

I have come across a number of interesting websites about books and reading recently and thought I'd share.

Daniel Pink's 10 Favorite Books of the Year (for adults)

New York Times Best Books of the Year (for adults)

New York Times Notable Books for Kids

New York Times Best Illustrated Books for Kids

105 Ways to Give a Book

New York Public Library - 100 Titles for Sharing and Reading 2009 (for kids)

How Stories Save Us by Pam Allyn

The Hunger Games - Young Adult

When someone says, "Amy, you have to read this book - it's the best worst book I've ever read," what choice do I have?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins grabs you by the throat and pulls you in. You quickly become appalled by what's going to happen and then can't walk away until you find out the resolution. If I were to break it down in it's simplest form I might say The Hunger Games is a futuristic version of survival of the fittest...for 12 to 18 year olds. Twenty four are chosen (12 male, 12 female) but there can be only one survivor. Collins weaves an incredible tale - twists and turns abound. It is not for the faint of heart but those who get through it, book two recently came out and book three is due next summer.

Time to Catch Up - Adult Reviews

I traveled to San Diego over Thanksgiving break which afforded me plenty of time to read. Twelve hours in an airplane and a little bit of insomnia work wonders when you have a list of books to get through.

The Crowd Sounds Happy by Nicholas Dawidoff is a memoir. We learn early on that Dawidoff's father suffers from mental illness and his mother leaves with the kids, settling in New Haven. Despite not having access to TV or a daily newspaper (limited money meant cutting corners where they could); Dawidoff develops a love for baseball, in particular the Boston Red Sox. This isn't a quick read but if you know someone who grew up with a transistor radio under their pillow, it may be a worthwhile purchase.

Speed Shrinking by Susan Shapiro would qualify as chick lit. Julia, an expert on sugar cravings, is left to fend for herself as her best friend moves away, her husband goes out to California to pursue an acting job and her long-time shrink relocates to Arizona. Is it great literature. Nope but I will say it brings up some interesting issues about food (not to mention the mental health profession).

One more...

Another one to make you cry. The title says it all: Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle (Brian Dennis, Mary Nethery and Kirby Larson). It did get me thinking, would any of my dogs travel seventy miles to find me? Maybe if I had cheese.

Browsing at Barnes and Noble

I recently had a chance to browse the children's section of Barnes and Noble - I found a book that made me cry, a book that made me laugh, a book that left me in awe and a book that made me wish I had a five year old niece or nephew.

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy, in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah tells a simple story of how one man from Kenya (who was studying in the US) was so altered by the events of 9/11 (he was in the city ) that he returns to his village and tells his community they must do something. An amazing story with beautiful illustrations.



The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman with illustrations by David Roberts tells a rollicking story of students determined to get revenge on their tyrannical teacher, Miss Breakbone. Every student has a special gift - whether it's throwing spitballs or making paperclip chains and the Dunderheads need to work together to prevail. This isn't great literature but it is a fun read and not too intimidating.


Jerry Pinkney is amazing - in his brand new The Lion and the Mouse he wordlessly leads the reader/observer so successfully that you are left with your mouth agape. The illustrations are vibrant, fill the page and express emotion while at the same time reminding us we are all capable of great things, no matter our size. Aesop would be proud.


Otis by Loren Long is the story of a reliable tractor who with his delightful personality manages to calm the animals around him, in particular a new calf. Despite his wonderful work ethic, the farmer eventually replaces Otis with something bigger and better and sends Otis out behind the barn where he is left unused and forgotten. Oh sure the yellow tractor is bigger but is it better? Does the new tractor know what to do when the calf flees into the muddy pond? Can the new tractor rescue the calf? Can Otis. A perfect read for kindergarten and first grade.

Guilty of Judging a Book by its Cover

So in the Media Center Mrs. Belmonte and I have our favorite books - one of hers is Stranger in the Woods. Every time a student borrows it she gets excited. Me? I never understood why - the cover sort of creeped me out. Last week I decided to venture further than the cover. Stranger in the Woods and the two books that follow: Lost in the Woods and First Snow in the Woods are wonderful stories that combine beautiful language and incredible photography by Carl Sams and Jean Stoick. Check them - they'd make great holiday gifts.

It's been a while...

Sorry for the lack of updates - once school got going I lost all sense of time. Here we go...a handful of books I've read...

For adults, A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve was a big disappointment for me. I have really enjoyed her work in the past so when I decided to devote all my spare time last weekend to starting and finishing a book, I chose Shreve's new release. For me it came down to not having anyone to root for. Because of my past history with the author, I did not apply the 50 page rule and kept hoping that things might get better. They didn't. The best part was learning a little about Kenya.

Kathy Jarombek, Director of Youth Services at Perrot Library recommended some great books recently. Among them - Tsunami (by Kimiko Kajikawa), There are Cats in This Book (by Viviane Schwarz) and Wolves (by Emily Gravett). All three received rave reviews at our school wide reading celebration last week.

And for the Adults...

You've heard me use the term book diet - here are three books that exemplify this idea (at least in my mind).

The Imposter's Daughter by Laurie Sandell is a graphic memoir. It seems Ms. Sandell's father isn't who she thought he was. The deception he wove and his wife enabled is impressive but this is also a story of how we view ourselves - should our lives be defined by our past? Where do we find the fortitude and inner resources to forgive and change. I picked this book up expecting something completely different than what I got. My guess is that Sandell set out to write a memoir about life with her dad and realized that she was as big a part of the story as he was.


The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley is a wonderfully funny murder mystery. You can't help but love eleven year old sleuth Flavia as she uncovers the mystery of the dead body she found in her father's garden.






Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin is an engaging look at a performer who has truly worked her way to the top. Yes she can be crass; yes she can be incredibly indelicate but she is a gifted storyteller who has a tremendous amount of love for her parents and understands that fame is fleeting. This book had far more depth than I thought it would. Not Pulitzer Prize winning depth but a sweet, tender depth (along with some laugh out loud inappropriateness).

The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech

I love Sharon Creech and am incredibly comfortable with her style so it was a surprise to read The Unfinished Angel - a thoroughly delightful surprise. As a comparison, I am known for making a really good chocolate chip cookie so you might arch your eye brows were I to show up with meatballs. It might take a few bites but you would eventually realize I make a mean meatball too. In The Unfinished Angel Sharon Creech invites us to Switzerland where her unnamed angel is looking for a purpose. Enter Zola, a feisty and determined girl who helps the angel find her way. Subtle humor and well defined characters make this a lovely read.

Return of the Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

Dan Gutman is back with the same cast of characters from The Homework Machine. A quick and fun read, the students once again tell their story through an interrogation by Police Chief Rebecca Fish. If you remember, Benton was receiving mysterious phone calls at the end of the original book - do they continue? Will the foursome try and make another machine (sixth grade is hard)? Will their new teacher, a former military man, rule the classroom with an iron fist? And where exactly did the machine land when they catapulted it into the Grand Canyon? Take a hike through Return of the Homework Machine - you won't be disappointed with the adventure.

Some stuff for adults

Friday I stopped by the library and found James Patterson's Swimsuit on the shelf. Fluff for a Saturday at the beach. I read it and then wondered what exactly a shrink would say about Patterson and his collaborators - they weave these stories of evil and once you pick up the book you're engaged, whether you like it or not (which begs the question why do I keep going back for more).



One book I finished and highly recommend if you're looking to make a change in your life is Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward by James O. Prochaska, John Norcross, and Carlo DiClement. It's a fascinating look at how people change and reassuring in it's simplicity. Great food for thought (ie. change isn't linear), it offers simple suggestions on how to make meaningful change.


I was at Barnes and Noble on Friday night and I stopped by the New Biography section and found a memoir by David Small, a children's book illustrator. Why is this memoir different? He wrote it graphically. It is a very quick, heart wrenching read. The reason I mention it is because some scoff at whether or not graphic novels are "real" books. Can a graphic novel adequately tell a story? If you read Stitches there will be no doubt.