Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater, is one of the very best books I ever read as a child. Excellent for reading aloud, and written with just the right mix of easy and advanced vocabulary to challenge the intermediate reader. This is a Newbery Honor book. The story is that of the Popper… Continue reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Tag: Books
Pegeen
I came across Pegeen when I was 10 years old, and it was an intimidating book: 2 inches thick and larger than a typical hardback. (It was in very large type, with many pictures.) I was, and am, so glad that I was brave enough to read it. In my adulthood, I searched for it… Continue reading Pegeen
Make Way for Ducklings
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is a childhood favorite. The day I found out I was pregnant for the first time, I started looking for a copy of this book. For those who like to know these things, it’s a Caldecott Medal winner. Mother and Father Mallard are seeking a place to build… Continue reading Make Way for Ducklings
Is My Child Sleep Deprived?
Of great importance and relevance to all parents is the book Is My Child Overtired? by Dr. Will Wilkoff. The section on the sleep needs of teens is highly informative, as is chapter 12, “It Takes a Well-Rested Parent….” Studies show that most children and a large number of adults are sleep-deprived. Sleep-deprivation causes irritability, health… Continue reading Is My Child Sleep Deprived?
One Life
The story of the first human heart transplants and how the protocols for performing them were developed. Far from being as dry as that sounds, this is a compelling and interesting story of the life of the man who performed the very first human heart transplant. Did you know that the first heart transplant was… Continue reading One Life
The Trellis and the Vine
This book, by Jan Karon (the Mitford queen), is a new storybook for kids. I bought it on a whim, because I was cashing out my “Treasure Points” from the Children’s Book of the Month Club and it sounded interesting. It was wonderful. Of course, it helps that the kids and I grow moonflowers on… Continue reading The Trellis and the Vine
Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries
The books in the Encyclopedia Brown mystery series by Donald J. Sobol, for pre-teen and early teen readers, are great books on a number of levels. The stories are short and to the point, packing a lot of detail into just a few pages. The mysteries are not esoteric, but they do require some thought… Continue reading Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries
Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office
I discovered this book on the sale table at a local book shop in March 2004 and bought it, thinking it might help me. Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers, by Lois Frankel, Ph.D. has been all that I hoped for and more. The book,… Continue reading Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office
Two-Minute Mysteries
This is a great set of books by Donald J. Sobol, who also gave us the incomparable child-detective, Encyclopedia Brown. These books are published as both a compendium volume and as separate books by Scholastic, and have been in print since 1967. Each book contains a number of one or two-page scenarios setting up a… Continue reading Two-Minute Mysteries
The Problem of Pain
This book is a very deep and thought-provoking examination of the role that pain and suffering play in the world. If it is read carefully and with reflection adequate to ensure full understanding of the author’s theses, premises, and conclusions, The Problem of Pain provides an excellent answer to the question “How can a good,… Continue reading The Problem of Pain