Category: books

We Are Reading – May 4th

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As I have been knee deep in projects at the new job, my leisurely reading has been put on hold. The books that I read to the kid have been my only literary relaxation and I am not ashamed to say they have been pretty awesome. In fact, maybe I should switch to reading kids books exclusively. Character development, plot, conflict, love, loss and happy endings in less than 15 minutes. It’s a win win!

Race from A to Z

Race from A to Z by Jon Scieszka

25 vehicles racing through town at breakneck speed while Izzy the Ice Cream truck tries to get them to buy Astro Pops and Snow Cones. How could I (and the kid) not be in love with this one. Our favorite character was the pink garbage truck with the bunny rabbit on her bumper. Why don’t they make those in real life? This book is great for any kid who likes racing cars and rhyming.

 

Tiny_Titans_Return_to_the_Treehouse_Vol_1_1

Tiny Titans Return to the Treehouse by Art Baltazar

Joe brings these home from comic book stores he visits on his trips. The kid loves them and this issue is especially awesome. Our fearless Tiny Titans have lost their treehouse and now the adventure begins to either find it, or an awesome replacement. As usual, this is a great book for kids who love superheroes and laughs.

 

The Secrets of Codes by Paul Lunde

The Secrets of Codes by Paul Lunde

My husband’s brain works differently than mind. He is definitely science and math. I am everything swirly and creative. His taste in books is often reflective of this difference and this is a prime example of that.  This is a great book for people whose love puzzle solving and the use of images as communication. From hobo markings to American Sign Language many forms of non-traditional communication are explained.

 

Marvel's Princess Lei

Marvel’s Princess Leia

I have had the time to read something that is not a children’s book. It is the Marvel Star Wars Collection’s Princess Lei coming books. Yes I know it is a comic book, but I don’t consider these children’s reading. They are really for everyone. As usual, the husband brought this one home. The man goes to some great comic book shops around the country and we benefit greatly.

 

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What We Are Reading – March 2nd

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Little Beauty by Anthony Browne

Little Beauty by Anthony Browne

 

 

After a recent trip to the library, the kid fell in book love with this one by Anthony Browne. The story of a lonely gorilla and his new kitty friend is sweet, touching, and based loosely on the true story of a feline and primate duo. The surprise ending is beautiful and makes every kid young and old ask to read the story one more time.Browne’s illustrations are wonderful and compliment the tale beautifully. Browne has done other children’s books focused on chimps and gorillas including Gorilla, Willy the Dreamer and Willy and Hugh. You will surely see those featured here soon.

 

The Joy of X

The Joy of X by Steven Strogatz

My wonderful husband is very smart. He is very smart in a math, science and Pythagorean theorem way. That side of my brain does not work so I will not be reading this one once he is done with it. Although it is an easy read, and according to him is excellent for those who struggle with math, it’s not going on my “must read” list anytime soon. But maybe it will explain why all of those letters and numbers were colluding against me in school. Hmm, I guess I should never say never.

What are you reading???

 

 

What We Are Reading – February 13th

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I continue to be in a position where I am stumbling over so many things that I need to read. My list includes books and magazines that pertain to both work and play, and I am afraid the list will never stop growing. This is in addition to the many episodes of Fringe I still have yet to watch. If I could clone myself I would be set!

I had almost finished Americana and the latest issue of Fast Company when my husband took a trip to Portland, Oregon and visited Powell’s Books. If you have never been to Powell’s it is a must-do when you are in the wonderful city of Portland. It’s a book nerd’s wet dream with thousands of new and used books of all genres. As you can guess I now have another book on my list.

 

 

Best Infographics of 2013

The Best American Infographics 2013 by David Byrne

The hubs knows my love of infographics and the fact that I am always looking for inspiration for the ones I do at work. And as “just-because” gifts are my favorite, he picked this book up for me. While, it is now 2015 and technically the information is two years old the graphic representation of the data is wonderful. My favorite would have to be the Mixology infographic, of course. We will be traveling to Portland again this spring and I plan on stopping by Powell’s to see if I can’t find the 2014 version of this book.

 

 

Alexander's Great Pretending Day

Alexander’s Great Pretending Day by Bunny Crumpacker

 

We took another trip to the library and the kid got nine books. In his words he thinks it is “better than the book store because everything is free.” I think he has a point. During this visit he picked up this gem by Bunny Crumpacker (yes that is really her name) and we have read it several times. The imagination filled moments are scenes we can relate to in this household as many forts, superhero fight scenes and dinosaur conversations are created here.  I also think the mother-son bonding between the two characters is beautiful. Every kids will love reading this story.

Also added to my must-read list:

Power Forward– My Presidential Education by Reggie Love
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Funny Girl: A Novel by Nick Hornby

What are you reading?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flickr Photo by Javier Pico

What We Are Reading – January 17th

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Back in the day I would read two books at once while devouring a magazine every two days. Those were the days! I didn’t have a kid, a husband, or a car so I had to take public transportation everywhere I went. That gave me a lot of free time to soak in every word I could. I don’t think it is my zest for reading that has left, but the time that I have to do it in that has fled the scene. Currently I am daring to read two books at once and I also bought a third that is waiting in the wings.

Wish me luck!

Currently I am reading…

Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I am all in on this one. The characters are vulnerable, painfully human and while I am dying to flip to the end to find out what happens; I will be patient.  It is said that David Oyelowo ( you many know him from Selma) and Lupita Nyong’o  (you know her because you don’t live under a rock) are slated to play the leads in the film version of this novel. We shall see if they do the book justice.

As well as…

Schoolgirls: Young Women, Self-esteem, and the Confidence Gap- Peggy Orenstein 

This book makes me happy we have a boy and not a girl. Our society is filled with accepted language and engrained behaviors that push young girls out of their confident selves. This is a must read for both men and women and is a tool for deciphering what is really being said in schools, family room, and in-between the pages of every fashion magazine.

Waiting to be read is…

Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Sacredness in Everyday Life – Thomas Moore

Where as my to-do from last year was filled with professional and fitness goals; this year’s list are a bit more relaxed. I will post all of my hopes for 2015 soon, but one of them is to challenge my mental self and celebrate the now. It is glorious when I am able to do it and I hope to have more of those moments thanks to the knowledge gained from this book.

What are you reading?