Showing posts with label 5 Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5 Stars. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Book Review and Giveaway: THE PORTABLE PEDIATRICIAN by William Sears, MD, et al.

CLOSED.
Thanks to the generous folks at
Hachette Book Group,
I have been authorized to
 give away one (1) copy

Rules for entering this giveaway
are at the bottom of this post.


by William Sears, MD; Martha Sears, RN; Robert Sears, MD
James Sears, MD; and Peter Sears, MD

Pub. Date: February 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Format: Paperback , 592pp
ISBN-13: 9780316017480
ISBN: 0316017485

Description (from the publisher):
Imagine you are up at three o'clock in the morning with a sick child. Wouldn't it be nice to have expert advice readily at hand to help get you through the night? Encyclopedic in scope, THE PORTABLE PEDIATRICIAN features timely and practical information on every childhood illness and emergency, including when to call the doctor, what reassuring signs can help you know your child is okay, how to treat your child at home, and much more-all in a convenient A-to-Z format. Among the scores of topics covered:
 

teething; sprains and broken bones; nosebleeds; measles; ear infections; choking; rashes; colic; headaches; eating disorders; fever; hip pain; warts; allergies; obesity; seizures; Asperger's Syndrome; bronchitis; masturbation; sunburns; pneumonia; speech delay; lice; vomiting; asthma; heart defects; blisters; sleep problems; and more.
 
The Searses guide parents and caregivers from a child's infancy through the teen years, teaching them what to expect at regular checkups as well as how to boost a child's well-being, devise a family health plan, work effectively with their pediatrician, and more. Distinguished by the Searses' trademark comprehensiveness, reliability, and accessible, comforting one, this book is a must-have for all families who want to keep their children healthy and happy.


About the authors (from the publisher):
William Sears, MD, and Martha Sears, RN, are the pediatric experts on whom American parents increasingly rely for advice and information on all aspects of pregnancy, birth, childcare, and family nutrition. Dr. Sears has practiced pediatrics for more than 40 years, and is an associate clinical professor at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Martha Sears is a registered nurse and parenting and health consultant. Robert W. Sears, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician in private practice in southern California.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars - A Great Resource

My Thoughts:
What a terrific book! If you have kids or grandkids running around your house, you should have a copy of THE PORTABLE PEDIATRICIAN handy. Since I live with my young niece and nephew, I was really excited to have the opportunity to review this book, and not only was I not disappointed, I was much more impressed than I expected.

I really like how easy it is to use this volume. Even though the authors cover childhood health issues relevent from infancy through the teenage years, everything is easy to understand. The bulk of the book is a section called "Pediatric Concerns and Illnesses: A to Z." The conditions discussed range from major to minor and cover all sorts of routine concerns. With subheadings such as Symptoms; Causes; Treatment;When to Worry; What to Do and even What Not to Do and How Long Will It Last, it's easy to get useful and clear information. It's great having so much advice at my fingertips, and I've also found it interesting to sit down and just randomly read. 

I also like the sections on getting the most from checkups and office visits. Sometimes its difficult to talk to your child's doctor because your baby is fussy or your doctor seems rushed. I thought the discussion on how to prepare for an office visit and what to expect was really helpful. I especially liked that the section included the teen years and what sorts of questions to ask and discussions to have with your doctor when your child is older.

You might think that with the Internet, a book such THE PORTABLE PEDIATRICIAN would be obsolete these days, but think again. In the time it would take you to power up your computer, Google some symptoms, and wade through the results, you could have already referred to this book and evaluated your child's condition as well as decided whether you need a trip to the doctor, the drugstore, or maybe only the sofa! Not to mention that you could just sit back in a comfy chair and leaf through it and familiarize yourself with illnesses and conditions that may not yet be present but that you're likely to encounter down the line. Wouldn't you prefer to know ahead of time how to treat a black eye, bloody nose, or bee sting?


THE PORTABLE PEDIATRICIAN is a great resource that no family home should be without.

FTC Disclaimer: I recieved a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  Honest!

RULES FOR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY:

• Leave an original comment on this post telling me you would like to win. Include an email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you do win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com or geebee.reads [at] gmail [dot] com

You must leave an email address in order to qualify. If I can't contact you, you can't win!

• You can earn an extra entry by being or becoming a Follower or Subscriber of this blog and telling me about it in a separate comment.

• Blog about this contest and provide me with the link to the post in a separate comment, and I'll give you yet another entry.

• Tweeting about this contest and providing me the link in a separate comment will get you one more entry. I've added a Retweet button at the bottom of every post.

• Stumble this blog, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it, whatever, and leave a separate comment for another entry.

• Winners must provide a U.S. or Canadian street address. Hachette is unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes.

• PLEASE NOTE: One win per household. If you win this title in another contest hosted at another blog, Hachette will only send one copy per household address.

Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, March 18, 2011.

• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email announcing that they have won; if I don't hear from a winner, I will draw another name.

• Winners are determined using the sequence generator at Random.org.

Thank you to Anna
at Hachette Book Group
for making this giveaway possible.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A Pop-Up Book by Charles Dickens; illustrated by Chuck Fischer; paper engineering by Bruce Foster

CLOSED.
Thanks to the holly-jolly folks at
Hachette Book Group,
I have been authorized to
 give away one (only 1) copy of
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
A Pop-Up Book
by Charles Dickens, Chuck Fischer.

Rules for entering this giveaway
are at the bottom of this post.


by Charles Dickens
illustrated by Chuck Fischer
paper engineering by Bruce Foster

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Fiction, Juvenile Fiction
Format: Hardcover Book
Publish Date: 11/10/2010
Price: $30.00/$36.00
ISBN: 9780316039734
Pages: 12
Size: 7-3/4" x 9-3/4"

Description (from the publisher):
This beautiful re-imagining of Charles Dickens's timeless fable, A Christmas Carol: A Pop-Up Book features artist Chuck Fischer's richly painted depictions of the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, brought to life in intricate pop-up scenes by paper engineer Bruce Foster. The entire text of A Christmas Carol is reproduced in five removable, illustrated, keepsake booklets. An introductory booklet provides a biography of Dickens and an illustrated feature on the enduring appeal of this beloved story.

Click here to view the pop-up book.

Click here to visit the website of paper engineer, Bruce Foster.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

My Thoughts:
Let's face it -- it hardly seems like Christmas without Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL. But, let's continue to face it, after a lifetime of retelling, the story can get a little -- how can I put this? -- stale. If that's how you're feeling about this classic story, then this is the book for you! Chuck Fischer's beautiful illustrations and Bruce Foster's ingenous paper engineering literally bring this old favorite to 3-D life.

Six delightful page spreads definitely make the story pop -- as in UP, of course! Beginning with a beautifully detailed depiction of a London street at Christmastime. We are then visited by Marley's Ghost and each of the three Christmas Spirits - Past, Present, and Future. The final pop-up is again of the London street but this time the foreground includes the joyous Tiny Tim held aloft on the shoulder of a beaming Scrooge. There is so much detail in each of the individual scenes that you will want to spend some time examining each one. I continually find something new each time I look the book over. I think my favorite depiction is that of the Ghost of Christmas Past. There's an extra little series of pop-ups which give us glimpses of Scrooge's younger years and help explain how he came to be so close-hearted and tight-fisted.

Another thing that I really liked is that each pop-up page includes a little booklet, dividing the text of A CHRISTMAS CAROL into five segments. It makes it easy to read the story a little at a time allowing the reader to savor both the message and the period detail. Additionally, the little pamphlets are illustrated with pictures by John Leech, the original illustrator of A Christmas Carol. The first pamphet contains an essay on the enduring appeal of the story and a brief biography of Charles Dickens himself. These little pamphlets enhance the story told in pop-ups and should not be overlooked.

We've all enjoyed Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A Pop-Up Book here at my house. Chuck Fischer and Bruce Foster have created another beautiful book that will appeal to to anyone of any age. I highly recommend it.

About Author

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most prolific authors of the nineteenth century. In his many short stories, plays, novellas, and

About the author and illustrator (from the publisher):
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most prolific authors of the nineteenth century. In his many short stories, plays, novellas, and novels, he created some of literature's most memorable characters.

Chuck Fischer's paintings hang in some of the finest residences in the world. His designs have been reproduced on holiday ornaments and home furnishings, including wallpaper and fabrics in the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. He is the author of six previous pop-up books: The White House, Great American Houses and Gardens, Christmas in New York, Christmas Around the World, In the Beginning, and Angels: A Pop-Up Book. He lives in New York and Florida. Click here to visit his website.

RULES FOR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY:

• Leave an original comment on this post telling me you would like to win. Include an email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you do win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com or geebee.reads [at] gmail [dot] com

You must leave an email address in order to qualify. If I can't contact you, you can't win!

• You can earn an extra entry by being or becoming a Follower or Subscriber of this blog and telling me about it in a separate comment.

• Blog about this contest and provide me with the link to the post in a separate comment, and I'll give you yet another entry.

• Tweeting about this contest and providing me the link in a separate comment will get you one more entry. I've added a Retweet button at the bottom of every post.

• Stumble this blog, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it, whatever, and leave a separate comment for another entry.

• Winners must provide a U.S. or Canadian street address. Hachette is unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes.

• PLEASE NOTE: One win per household. If you win this title in another contest hosted at another blog, Hachette will only send one copy per household address.

Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, December 3, 2010.

• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email announcing that they have won; if I don't hear from a winner, I will draw another name.

• Winners are determined using the sequence generator at Random.org.

Thank you to Anna
at Hachette Book Group
for making this giveaway possible.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Book Review and Giveaway: THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: GROSS Junior Edition

CLOSED.

Rules for entering this giveaway
are at the bottom of this post.

by David Borgenicht, Nathaniel Marunas, and Robin Epstein

Publisher: Chronicle Books
6 x 8 in; 128 pp ; 1-color throughout, ages 8 and up
Guided Reading Level: Q
Paperback
Published in September, 2010
ISBN 9780811875707
ISBN10 0811875709

Description (from the publisher):
Leave it to the authors of the best-selling Worst-Case Scenario series to serve up a hilarious and totally "gross" handbook that will guide kids through all things slippery, slimy, and stinky. Find out how to survive boogers, bloody noses, barfing emergencies, and more. The tips in this book will have kids laughing out loud, while gearing them up to tackle all that's utterly disgusting in life, Worst-Case Scenario-style!




Click image to enlarge.
 My Rating:  5 out of 5 Stars - Kids will love it - you will, too!

My Thoughts:  Want something to grab and hold the interest of your reluctant middle-grade reader - especially boys? Have I got the book for you!  THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: GROSS Junior Edition is so chock full of disgusting yet worthwhile information that no boy on earth will be able to put it down. O.K., so realistically, I can't guarantee that claim, I can only speak for myself and what I witnessed with my 10 y.o. nephew. I breezed through it in one sitting (I am, after all, an adult). It took him a few more.

When reviewing a book, one has to consider not only whether it lives up to one's expectations but also whether it lived up to it's own claims. Let's take the most attention-grabbing claim first. Right on the front cover, THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: GROSS Junior Edition claims it will tell the reader how to survive: Nightmare Boogers (check - see page 12); Barf Emergencies (check - see page 16); and the School Bathroom (check, check - see page 82). In all, the book discusses 30 of the grossest situations a kid (or anyone -- even you!) could find themselves in. Everything is discussed in kid-friendly language. If you cringe when a nearby child uses words like "fart" and "poop" and "nose loogie", well, then, cover your ears because the authors do not mince words. If your kid doesn't know enough variations on the word "vomit", this book will quickly bring him up to speed, offering an alphabetical listing of alternatives from "blow chunks" to "yak." So, yes, this book definitely covers all things gross.

But is grossness enough for me to recommend this book to you? Of course not - we are, after all, civilized, as well as maybe just a bit snooty. Many would argue as to the value of purposeless play -  our jobs as adults is to educate the younger generation and foster their survival. Exposing our children to a whole tome of grossness just for the sake of entertainment would be a waste of precious educational time not to mention just plain irresponsible. But wait! What is the secondary claim put forth by the authors? The one that will initially slip past the attention of kids as they race to find the grossest of all possible gross scenarios? Ah, yes. It was "survival" wasn't it? See, it's right there in the middle of the title: THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: GROSS Junior Edition. This book not only details most gross situations, it explains to kids how to survive them. So the reader is not just going to become comfortable with terms such as "nose loogie" but will also learn what exactly is a nose loogie, why they exist, and what to do about them. In the guise of entertaining grossness, kids will learn lots of useful information about health and hygiene.

Both my nephew and I had a lot of fun reading THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: GROSS Junior Edition. It's appealing to kids because the subject matter is gross and the illustrations are funny. Adults will be happy to know the kids are learning exactly why it's a bad idea to stick a wad of chewed gum under your desk. This book is a great way to sneak a little education into your kid's entertainment. We plan to check out more titles in this series.

About the authors (from the publisher):
David Borgenicht is a writer, editor, publisher, and co-author of all the books in the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series. He lives in Philadelphia.

Nathaniel Marunas is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York.

Robin Epstein is the co-author of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Middle School. She lives in New York City.

I have one (1) copy to offer for giveaway. Here's what to do:

RULES FOR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY:

• Leave an original comment on this post telling me you would like to win. Include an email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you do win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com or geebee.reads [at] gmail [dot] com

You must leave an email address in order to qualify. If I can't contact you, you can't win!

• You can earn an extra entry by being or becoming a Follower or Subscriber of this blog and telling me about it in a separate comment.

• Blog about this contest and provide me with the link to the post in a separate comment, and I'll give you yet another entry.

• Tweeting about this contest and providing me the link in a separate comment will get you one more entry. I've added a Retweet button at the bottom of every post.

• Stumble this blog, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it, whatever, and leave a separate comment for another entry.

• Winners must provide a U.S. or Canadian street address. The publisher is unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes.

• PLEASE NOTE: One win per household. If you win this title in another contest hosted at another blog, the publisher will only send one copy per household address.

Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday, October 16, 2010.

• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email announcing that they have won; if I don't hear from a winner, I will draw another name.

• Winners are determined using the sequence generator at Random.org.

Thank you to Lara
at Chronicle Books
for making this giveaway possible.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Book Review #51: BACKSEAT SAINTS (audiobook) by Joshilyn Jackson


read by the author

Publisher: Hachette Audio
Category: Fiction
Format: Audio Book
Subformat: CD (Audio)
Edition: Unabridged
Publish Date: 6/8/2010
Price: $34.98/$41.98
ISBN: 9781607882220
Pages: 0

Description (from the publisher):
Rose Mae Lolley is a fierce and dirty girl, long-suppressed under flowery skirts and bow-trimmed ballet flats. As "Mrs. Ro Grandee" she's trapped in a marriage that's thick with love and sick with abuse. Her true self has been bound in the chains of marital bliss in rural Texas, letting "Ro" make eggs, iron shirts, and take her punches. She seems doomed to spend the rest of her life battered outside by her husband and inside by her former self, until fate throws her in the path of an airport gypsy---one who shares her past and knows her future. The tarot cards foretell that Rose's beautiful, abusive husband is going to kill her. Unless she kills him first.

Hot-blooded Rose Mae escapes from under Ro's perky compliance and emerges with a gun and a plan to beat the hand she's been dealt. Following messages that her long-missing mother has left hidden for her in graffiti and behind paintings, Rose and her dog Gretel set out from Amarillo, TX back to her hometown of Fruiton, AL, and then on to California, unearthing a host of family secrets as she goes. Running for her life, she realizes that she must face her past in order to overcome her fate---death by marriage---and become a girl who is strong enough to save herself from the one who loves her best.

BACKSEAT SAINTS will dazzle readers with a fresh and heartwrenching portrayal of the lengths a mother will go to right the wrongs she's created, and how far a daughter will go to escape the demands of forgiveness. With the seed of a minor character from her popular best-seller, GODS IN ALABAMA, Jackson has built a whole new story full of her trademark sly wit, endearingly off-kilter characters, and utterly riveting plot twists.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Supernova Stars - Flawless

My Thoughts:
Listening to BACKSEAT SAINTS was the most perfect audiobook experience. Beautifully read by the author, employing a variety of spot-on accents, the story of Rose Mae Lolley fighting for her survival is riveting. I tried to restrict my listening to my daily commutes, but it was impossible. First, Rose Mae spoiled me for any print book I tried to read. I abandoned book after book because her voice was so strong, so insistent, that she overshadowed any other characters I attempted to befriend. Then I found myself unwilling to leave my car on arrival at either work or home. I just wanted to keep on listening as Rose Mae mined her own past in an attempt to carve out a new present and hopefully, a future. Finally, I just gave up on everything else and listened to the story every chance I could get, bringing discs inside to listen to in the evenings as I lay in bed in the dark and back out to the car for the ride into work in the morning. Lunch breaks were spent eating sandwiches in my passenger seat, listening as Joshilyn Jackson brought Rose Mae to life -- as precarious as that life may be.

As the story opens, Rose Mae, deep into her alter ego of Mrs. Ro Grandee, wife of the oldest son of a prominent Amarillo family, is contemplating the murder of her husband, Thom. She's convinced that after 5 years of an abusive marriage, it has come down to either him or her. The narrative meanders back and forth between Rose Mae's childhood, marred by the abandonment of her mother and the abuse of her father, and the years of her marriage, building the tension brick by brick and filling in the gaps with a mortar of enlightening anecdotes. Without ever justifying Thom's abusive behavior, or even Rose Mae's many bad choices, the author illuminates the complexity of violent domestic relationships and how its effects ripple out through generations. Rose Mae begins to question her own complicity as she struggles to understand and exorcise what she considers a bad seed deep within her. It's an absolutely fascinating account of an abused woman grappling with self-awareness and empowerment.

In Jackson's earlier novel, GODS IN ALABAMA, Rose Mae Lolley was a minor character. There is some crossover of other characters as well. I hadn't read GODS. . ., and I'm actually glad that I hadn't. I didn't have any preconceived opinions about characters who appear in both novels, and that heightened the experience for me -- I didn't know what to expect; I didn't know if Rose Mae's descriptions of them were accurate or if they were distorted by her romanticism or rage. I do have a copy of GODS. . . on order, and I can't wait to hear it, though I find it hard to believe it will have as powerful an impact as BACKSEAT SAINTS.

If you're not a fan of audiobooks, you might want to make an exception for BACKSEAT SAINTS. First of all, Jackson does a stunning job with a variety of accents and personalities -- she is a trained actor. She gives Rose Mae a charming and endearing voice which often belies the horror of the scenes she is describing. It can be difficult to listen to the descriptions of a woman being beaten, and I often found myself gnawing on my own knuckles. Frankly, I don't know if I would have been able to read some of the scenes -- it would have been too easy to just skip over them. However, by listening to this story rather than reading it, I was able to hear what I otherwise may have chosen not to see. 

I strongly recommend BACKSEAT SAINTS. It's breathtaking and flawless.

Today is the last day to enter my giveaway for audiobook copies. Click here to enter.  (Comments on this review post will not be considered entries.)

Click here to listen to an excerpt.


Click here to access the Reading Group Guide.

Click here to visit the author's website.

About the author (from the publisher):
Joshilyn Jackson, a native of the Deep South, has worked as an actor and an award-winning teacher, and is now a writer and a mother of two. She is the author of GODS IN ALABAMA; BETWEEN, GEORGIA; and THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING. Jackson lives with her husband and children outside of Atlanta. Visit her at http://www.joshilynjackson.com/.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Book Review #48: CHERRIES IN WINTER by Suzan Colon


by Suzan Colón

Pub. Date: November 03, 2009
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Format: Hardcover, 224pp
ISBN-13: 9780385532525
ISBN: 0385532520

Description (from the publisher):
What is the secret to finding hope in hard times?

When Suzan Colón was laid off from her dream job at a magazine during the economic downturn of 2008, she needed to cut her budget way, way back, and that meant home cooking. Her mother suggested, “Why don’t you look in Nana’s recipe folder?” In the basement, Suzan found the tattered treasure, full of handwritten and meticulously typed recipes, peppered with her grandmother Matilda’s commentary in the margins. Reading it, Suzan realized she had found something more than a collection of recipes—she had found the key to her family’s survival through hard times.

Suzan began re-creating Matilda’s “sturdy food” recipes for baked pork chops and beef stew, and Aunt Nettie’s clam chowder made with clams dug up by Suzan’s grandfather Charlie in Long Island Sound. And she began uncovering the stories of her resilient family’s past. Taking inspiration from stylish, indomitable Matilda, who was the sole support of her family as a teenager during the Great Depression (and who always answered “How are you?” with “Fabulous, never better!”), and from dashing, twice-widowed Charlie, Suzan starts to approach her own crisis with a sense of wonder and gratitude. It turns out that the gift to survive and thrive through hard times had been bred in her bones all along.

Cherries in Winter is an irresistible gem of a book. It makes you want to cook, it makes you want to know your own family’s stories, and, above all, it makes you feel rich no matter what.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars -- Highly recommended - and quick, too!

My Thoughts:
You've heard the expression "Good things come in small packages." Well, CHERRIES IN WINTER by Suzan Colón is a delightfully good little book. At a diminutive 5 x 7.5 inches, it fits nicely in your hands and just feels good to hold. However, it's what's inside the package that really counts, and from the opening lines of the preface to the last few words of the acknowledgments, this little book is a feast of family fortitude. (I know, I've got to lay off the alliteration.) Colón's family members are by turn plucky, quirky, spunky, funny, hardy, and inspirational. I really wish I knew them. You'll wish so, too.

In an effort to trim her budget after being laid off, Suzan Colón digs out her grandmother's recipe folder from storage. Inside, she doesn't just find instructions for creating hardy and inexpensive meals. She finds a time capsule that introduces her not only to her grandmother who died when Colón was young but also to her great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Some of my favorite parts of the book were the brief glimpses into the daily lives of ordinary women over the course of the last hundred or so years.

One of the main principals to which Colón aspires is to be able to live frugally without being miserly. To achieve that requires mindfulness of one's choices and an appreciation for the gifts of mere existence. She conveys this beautifully in the little vignette from which the book derives its title. Believe me when I say I will most likely never eat cherries again without thinking of Manhattan.

I loved this book. When I give a book 5 out of 5 stars, it has to be more than really good. It has to have the "WOW! Factor." It's hard to define the WOW! Factor. It's a feeling of awe that comes over me as I'm reading a book. If that feeling is sustained throughout the entire book, it's a WOW! What made me say WOW! as I read this little book is that the author writes with a precision and economy that makes every word count. She manages to amuse and inspire as well as give us a little social history all while telling simple entertaining stories of her family. Just as CHERRIES IN WINTER is about how to economize while not feeling deprived, Suzan Colón's memoir provides us with a feast in just a few little bites.  


Click here to visit the author's website.

About the author (from the publisher):
Suzan Colón is a contributing writer and editor for O, The Oprah Magazine. Her articles have appeared in Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Details, and other magazines. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Nathan.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Book Review #47: HIGH AS A HAWK by T.A. Barron; illustrated by Ted Lewin


"Of the two hundred and fifty-odd trips
which I made as a guide to the summit
of this great old peak, the trip with Harriet
is the one I like best to recall."
Enos Mills (from the Author's Note at the back of HIGH AS A HAWK.)

illustrated by Ted Lewin

Pub. Date: May 2004
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Hardcover, 32pp
Age Range: 4 to 8
ISBN-13: 9780399237041
ISBN: 0399237046

Description (from the publisher):
Eight-year-old Harriet is determined to climb to the top of Longs Peak in Colorado. To get there, she'll have to overcome steep slopes, a freezing blizzard, and what her wise trail guide calls "surprises." But she simply must try both for herself and for the mother she has lost. If she succeeds, she will spread her wings and fly . . . high as a hawk.

Based on the historic 1905 ascent by the youngest person ever to climb Longs Peak, the highest mountain in Colorado, this book combines T. A. Barron's powerful, poetic writing with Ted Lewin's magnificent, evocative paintings. Together, they make a truly inspiring journey.

An author's note describes how the ascent encouraged guide Enos Mills to pursue his dream of creating the Rocky Mountain National Park.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars - Wonderful story - Beautifully illustrated - Enthusiastically recommended.

My Thoughts:
Never underestimate the power of a good book. A few weeks ago, I was alone in the house with E-6 (my 6 y.o. niece) and she was pitching a major fit. She just wanted her parents (who were both at work) and nothing less would appease her. Fortunately, I had recently been to the library and had a few "new" books. I picked up HIGH AS A HAWK and declared "I'm just going to sit here and read this book. You can listen if you want to, but you don't have to." Then I started to read aloud. Within just a few sentences, the crying had stopped and E-6 was at my elbow. I pretended not to notice and kept on reading. Soon, she climbed onto the arm of the chair and then into my lap and, together, we kept reading.

HIGH AS HAWK is based on the true story of Harriet Peters who, in 1905 at the age of 8, became the youngest person ever to have climbed to the 14,255-foot-high summit of Longs Peak in what is now Rocky Mountain National Park. She did it in fulfillment of her mother's dream to make the climb with Enos Mills, a mountain guide whose love of the area inspired his campaign to have it declared a national park. Unfortunately, Harriet's mother passed away just a short time before she was to make her dream come true.

When author T.A. Baron was researching the life of Enos Mills, he found an old letter from Harriet mixed in with those from some of America's most famous historical figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and even Helen Keller. Mr. Baron dug deeper to discover just why Enos Mills would have preserved a letter from a little girl. The result is this fictionalized account of the historic event.

Telling the story from Harriet's point of view, Mr. Baron's prose is economic and eloquent at the same time. The little expedition consisting of Harriet, her "pa," and Mr. Mills, sets out before dawn. As the sun rises and the light changes, Baron uses beautifully descriptive phrases that sound realistic coming from the mouth of an 8 year old in 1905. The mountain "looked pinker than a ripened peach. And big, too." The peak "glowed bright, with golden light dripping down its sides like honey." The beauty of her surroundings and her commitment to fulfilling her mother's dream give Harriet the strength to make the long and difficult climb.  And it is arduous. Her father has to drop out because of a persistent cough long before Harriet and Mr. Mills traverse steep woods, open meadows, fields of boulders, and sit out a mountain snowstorm. Little Harriet pushes on despite her throbbing knees and badly blistered foot. Her tenacity so inspires Mr. Mills that when she is about to give up, he tricks her into climbing just a few more yards to the summit, where finally, she spreads her arms wide and glories in being high as a hawk.

Everything about this book is perfect. The heroine is admirable and inspiring; I'm in awe of T.A. Barron's writing, which is spare (for this is a children's picture book) yet so evocative I don't believe illustrations are even necessary. And yet, we are treated to the most gorgeous, color-saturated illustrations of Ted Lewin. It is amazing to me how realistic and detailed watercolor can be in the hands of a true artist. If it's not clear enough how much I love this book, let me point out that my review copy came from the library, but I'll be purchasing one of my own to add to my Keeper Shelf. Find a copy of HIGH AS A HAWK -- and don't wait until you have a crying six-year-old on your hands. Although . . . if you want to test the book's power . . . ;)

About the author (from the publisher):
T.A. Barron is the award-winning author of fantasy novels such as The Lost Years of Merlin epic—soon to be a major motion picture. He serves on a variety of environmental and educational boards including The Nature Conservancy and The Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, and is the founder of a national award for heroic children. Following a life-changing decision to leave a successful business career to write full-time in 1990, Barron has written seventeen books, but is happiest when on the mountain trails with his wife, Currie, and their five children.

About the illustrator (from the publisher):
Ted Lewin grew up in an old frame house in Buffalo, New York, with two brothers, one sister, two parents, a lion, an iguana, a chimpanzee, and an assortment of more conventional pets. The lion was given to his older brother, Don, while he was traveling as a professional wrestler, and he shipped it home. The family kept Sheba in the basement fruit cellar until Don returned and their mother convinced him to give it to the Buffalo zoo.

Ted always knew he wanted to be an illustrator. As a child he copied the work of illustrators and painters he admired, including N.C. Wyeth, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Velázquez, and Goya. When it came time to go to art school (Pratt), he needed to earn money to finance his education. So, following in his brother’s footsteps, he took a summer job as a wrestler—the beginning of a 15-year part-time career that eventually inspired his autobiographical book I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler.

Ted’s career as an artist began with illustrations for adventure magazines, and it’s only over the last several years that he has devoted his time to writing and illustrating children’s books. “I’m having more fun doing this than anything I’ve ever done before,” he says. He is an avid traveler, and many of his books are inspired by trips to such places as the Amazon River, the Sahara Desert, Botswana, Egypt, Lapland, and India.

Ted and his wife Betsy live in Brooklyn, New York, where they share their home with two cats, Slick and Chopper. Click here to visit his website.


My review copy came from the Portsmouth Free Public Library, and I read this as part of the 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review #39: DENISE'S DAILY DOZEN by Denise Austin


January is all about new beginnings and
the hard-working and generous folks at
Hachette Book Group
want to inspire and motivate you, so. . .
I have been authorized to
 give away five (5) copies of

Rules for entering this giveaway are at the bottom of this post.



Publisher: Center Street
Category: Health & Fitness
Format: Trade Paperback
Publish Date: 1/5/2010
Price: $16.99/$19.99
ISBN: 9781599952444
Pages: 336
Size:7" x 9"

Description (from the publisher):
From Denise Austin comes the perfect health book for anyone who wants to live better but just can't seem to find the time. Much more than just another excercise book, Denise's Daily Dozen covers a whole range of health and diet related concepts yet manages it all in a no-stress, time-conscious program of 12's. At it's core, this book contains the minimum daily requirements to keep the reader flexible, strong and trim. Organized simply into seven chapters, which equal the seven days of the week, it covers a full week in daily allotments. Each day will have it's own focus from Monday being "fat burning day" to Sunday's "recharge and rejuvenate."

Denise has created a total body program, including a 7-day balanced meal plan that includes healthy recipes, and a workout that encompasses 12 exercises done in 12 minutes each day. Everyone can take just 12 minutes, at whatever time of the day works for them, and turn it over to these simple and fun exercises. Cardio, toning, yoga and breathing exercises...they're all here but in a way the maximizes effect while minimizing time.

Beyond a dozen exercises for each day of the week this book will include many other of Denises dozens for each day.


MY RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:
I've always liked Denise Austin's positve and outgoing attitude. Working out to her shows and videos is like working out with a motivating friend rather than an harassing drill sergeant! When I was offered the chance to review her new book, DENISE'S DAILY DOZEN, I was really excited.

As I expected, this book is written in Denise's friendly, upbeat style. She keeps things simple and doable. The plan is comprised of a set of 12 exercises that can easily be done at home. She doesn't require any fancy equipment - just the occasional use of a set of small hand weights. The routines are different for each day of the week; each day you get a total body workout and, over the course of a week, there is enough variety that you don't get bored. One of the best parts? Each daily routine can be completed in about 12 minutes! Who can't find 12 minutes a day to exercise?! O.K., so you are supposed to devote more than 12 minutes - Denise would like you to also walk about 12 miles a week. Still, we're not talking about a huge time commitment or financial investment.

DENISE'S DAILY DOZEN also includes separate sections with additional ballet-inspired barre exercises and moves that target the abs. She's added a small section of "tension tamers" that can be done at your desk, and a handful of moves called "fidget-cisers" that you can toss into your day while you're around the house - watching T.V., talking on the phone, or waiting for the toast to pop up.

Another great thing about this book are the daily menu plans and recipes sprinkled throughout. They are all healthful, easy, and mouth-watering. So far, I've tried and liked the Asian Lettuce Wraps, Veggie Quesadilla and Greek Bean Salad. If you're more adventurous than I am, you can try the Fish Tacos (made with mahi mahi). Denise's eating plan is sensible and well-balanced. Nothing is off-limits, but everything in moderation.

I also really enjoyed reading the success stories -- there's nothing like hearing from someone who has successfully worked a program to show that it can be done by the average person.

I highly recommend DENISE'S DAILY DOZEN for anyone who would like to get started on a fitness plan. (Of course, you should check with your doctor first.) Denise offers easy exercises, sensible advice, and plenty of encouragement and motivation. If you've been wondering how to get yourself started, this is the book for you!

Click here to visit Denise's website.

About the author (from the publisher):
A native of San Pedro, California, Denise started gymnastics at the age of 12 and earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Arizona, graduating in 1979 with an exercise physiology degree. She began her career teaching aerobic exercise classes in the Los Angeles area and went on to cohost the The Jack LaLanne Show, in 1981. (Denise considers Jack LaLanne one of her role models, and she is delighted to still speak regularly with the 95-year-old fitness legend.)

During more than 25 years promoting health and fitness, Denise has created 82 workout videos or DVDs. Her enormous number of sales led to her 2003 induction into the Video Hall of Fame.

Denise has been married for 25 years to Jeff Austin, a sports attorney and brother of tennis champ Tracy Austin. They share a home with their two teenage daughters, Kelly and Katie.

RULES FOR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY:

• Leave a comment on this post telling me you would like to win. Include an email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you do win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com or geebee.reads [at] gmail [dot] com

You must leave an email address in order to qualify. If I can't contact you, you can't win!

• You can earn an extra entry by being or becoming a Follower or Subscriber of this blog and telling me about it in a separate comment.

• Blog about this contest and provide me with the link to the post in a separate comment, and I'll give you yet another entry.

• Tweeting about this contest and providing me the link in a separate comment will get you one more entry. I've added a Retweet button at the bottom of every post.

• Stumble this blog, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it, whatever, and leave a separate comment for another entry.

• Winners must provide a U.S. or Canadian street address. Hachette is unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes.

Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, February 15, 2010.

• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email announcing that they have won; if I don't hear from a winner, I will draw another name.

Thank you to Anna
at Hachette Book Group
for making this giveaway possible.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Remember to visit the other Blog Tour Stops to read reviews, features, Q&A, and enter more giveaways:

http://www.harvestfortomorrow.blogspot.com/ Review 1/18/2010
http://www.wholelottamama.info/ Review 1/18/2010
http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/ Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://shawnssharings.blogspot.com/ Review and Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com/ Review 1/18/2010
http://worducopia.blogspot.com/ Review 1/18/2010
http://thebooktree.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/ Feature, Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://simplylivingonabudget.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://www.autsimandadoptionblessings.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway , Q&A 1/18/2010
http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://katiesnestingspot.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://thepracticalmomguide.blogspot.com/ Review, Q&A 1/18/2010
http://www.faithfullyfrugal-and-free.com/ Review, Giveaway , Q&A 1/18/2010
http://bugsandsnails.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://justanarmywifejustamommy.blogspot.com/ Giveaway 1/19/2010
http://www.sweetmissa.blogspot.com/ Giveaway 1/19/2010
http://www.saveyspender.com/ Review 1/19/2010
http://www.stay-at-homemomwhoknew.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://www.betweenthelinesandmore.blogspot.com/ Giveaway 1/20/2010
trinsnook.blogspot.com Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/ Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://luckycanuck.blogspot.com/ Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://ratherbechangingdiapers.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://joyfulreviews-giveaways.blogspot.com/ Feature, Review 1/20/2010
metroreader.blogspot.com Feature, Review, Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://www.atlmomguide.com/ Giveaway , Q&A 1/20/2010
http://www.mommygaga.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://www.libslibrary.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/20/2010
http://jensbooktalk.blogspot.com/ Review 1/20/2010
http://www.rundpinne.com/ Review 1/21/2010
http://ilratb.blogspot.com/ Giveaway, Review 1/21/2010
http://blesstheirheartsmom.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway , Q&A 1/21/2010
http://www.couponclippinmommy.blogspot.com/ Feature, Review, Giveaway , Q&A 1/21/2010
http://www.mamalatinatips.com/ Giveaway , Q&A 1/21/2010
http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/21/2010
http://www.growingababyreviews.com/ Giveaway 1/22/2010
http://kennedyandzach.blogspot.com/ Q&A, review, and giveaway 1/22/2010
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/ Feature, Review, Giveaway 1/22/2010
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com Feature, Giveaway 1/22/2010
http://www.mommypr.com/ Review, Giveaway , Q&A 1/22/2010
http://secondtimearound09.blogspot.com/ Giveaway 1/23/2010
http://silversavings.blogspot.com/ Feature, Review, Giveaway 1/23/2010
http://www.kballard87.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/23/2010
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/24/2010
http://desperatelyseekingdeals2.blogspot.com/ Review 1/24/2010
http://mamaof3munchkins.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
http://www.crazy-for-books.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/ Review 1/25/2010
http://therempels4.blogspot/ Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
http://www.chickwithbooks.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
momandbeauty@att.net Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
http://abstract2collective.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
http://www.hippie-mommy.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Audiobook Giveaway and Review #38: THE CONCISE KING


Thanks to the generous folks at
Hachette Book Group,
I have been authorized to
 give away three (3) audiobook copies of
THE CONCISE KING
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rules for entering this giveaway are at the bottom of this post.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read by Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, et al.
edited by Clayborne Carson, Peter Holloran and Kris Shepard

Publisher: Hachette Audio
Category: History
Format: Audio Book
Subformat: CD (Audio)
Edition: Abridged
Publish Date: 12/22/2009
Price: $19.98/$24.98
ISBN: 9781600248740
Pages: 0

Description (from the publisher):
For the first time, an edition of Martin Luther King's most important speeches and selected sermons are assembled and available on CD as a value-priced edition. Hachette Audio believes that the timeless message of King, in his own words and voice, are essential listening for any American and for any world citizen interested in American history, social justice, or non-violent protest. We hope to make these incredibly momentous speeches, extraordinary historical documents, accessible to an even wider population via this affordable offering.

Click here to listen to an excerpt.

MY RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars - Highly Recommended

MY THOUGHTS: I expected to be inspired by listening to this collection of King's speeches, but I wasn't prepared to be so deeply moved. It's not unusual to have heard bits and pieces of the more famous speeches; hearing a speech in its entirety is so powerful as to leave me, well, speechless!

I really enjoyed hearing the Reverend's early speeches and tracing the arc and progression of his mission. I think my favorite is one of his earliest, his sermon on Loving Your Enemies. I like that he urges us to take a hard look at ourselves before judging anyone else, to realize that everyone has some element of goodness within them, and to understand that hating "only intensifies the existance of hate and evil in the universe." He talks about how the downward spiral of hate ultimately leads to destruction for the individual as well as others and coaches us to "rise" to the level of love.  

Anything I could say would just sound trite in comparison to King's words. I can only recommend that everyone take the opportunity to listen to these speeches with an open mind and heart. It is truly a rare individual who can both humble and uplift a person. The world and our country lost a great man far before his time, but we are lucky to live in an age when his words could be recorded in his own voice. As a listener, I was inspired, empowered, and uplifted. Listening to this collection of King's speeches is a gift everyone should give to themselves.

RULES FOR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY:

• Leave a comment on this post telling me you would like to win. Include an email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you do win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com or geebee.reads [at] gmail [dot] com

You must leave an email address in order to qualify. If I can't contact you, you can't win!

• You can earn an extra entry by being or becoming a Follower or Subscriber of this blog and telling me about it in a separate comment.

• Blog about this contest and provide me with the link to the post in a separate comment, and I'll give you yet another entry.

• Tweeting about this contest and providing me the link in a separate comment will get you one more entry. I've added a Retweet button at the bottom of every post.

• Stumble this blog, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it, whatever, and leave a separate comment for another entry.

• Winners must provide a U.S. or Canadian street address. Hachette is unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes.

Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, January 29, 2010.

• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email announcing that they have won; if I don't hear from a winner, I will draw another name.

Thank you to Anna
at Hachette Book Group
for making this giveaway possible.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.