Kid Konnection: Entertaining Picture Books

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. Today, I'm going to share with you a couple of terrific picture books that Booking Son and I recently read. As he is getting better at reading, I fear our days of picture book reading are coming to an end.

Summary: Acclaimed picture book biographer Jeanette Winter has found her perfect subject: Jane Goodall, the great observer of chimpanzees. Follow Jane from her childhood in London watching a robin on her windowsill, to her years in the African forests of Gombe, Tanzania, invited by brilliant scientist Louis Leakey to observe chimps, to her worldwide crusade to save these primates who are now in danger of extinction, and their habitat. Young animal lovers and Winter's many fans will welcome this fascinating and moving portrait of an extraordinary person and the animals to whom she has dedicated her life. -- Schwartz & Wade

I have always been a huge fan of Jane Goodall's, but evidently she is becoming very popular right now with children too. A few weeks ago, I reviewed a cute book about her childhood called ME...JANE. And now I found another book about Ms. Goodall's called THE WATCHER: JANE GOODALL'S LIFE WITH THE CHIMPS by Jeanette Winter. I absolutely loved this book and Booking Son agreed. Plus, it's received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus.

I have read a few books about Jane Goodall and already knew that was an incredibly woman, but now I can share her "awesomeness" with my children through THE WATCHER. This picture book tells the story of Jane Goodall from her early childhood on a farm to her present day work as a worldwide ambassador for awareness of chimpanzees, and it's must better at explaining her accomplishments than I could ever be. In addition, THE WATCHER also demonstrates that kids can make a difference in the world and help save our environment and its animals.

The illustrations in this book were charming and perfectly complemented the story. They were sometimes a little whimsical and always very colorful. I especially liked the pages where the chimpanzees were features -- too cute! Evidently the pictures did a good job of showing how Ms. Goodall changed through the years because Booking Son commented on how the book covered her entire life. He asked me if she was old now because he thought the pictures showed that.

THE WATCHER is a fabulous book and I highly recommend it! Teachers and parents alike will enjoy sharing Ms. Goodall's accomplishments with their students and children.

Summary: Meet Chamelia! Chamelia is a chameleon. Most chameleons like to blend in, but Chamelia prefers to stand out. She just loves being the center of attention. But when standing out means being left out, can Chamelia learn to share the spotlight? -- Little, Brown

CHAMELIA by Ethan Long is another adorable book. While it might be considered less educational than the prior book since it's based on a fictional chameleon, it still has a very valuable message. I thought Chamelia and her sense of fashion were just precious!

Chamelia isn't like most chameleons because she tried to stand apart from her environment -- not blend in. She strives to be the center of attention and uses her fashion sense to do so! (In fact, she reminded me a bit of one of my favorite kids' book characters -- Olivia!) But when Camelia learns that standing out can also mean being left out, she realizes that being part of the crowd isn't so bad!

I can't stress how much I loved this book. Chamelia is a wonderful character and the message is a very important one too! (I sometimes think we can place too much value on being an individual all of the time!) In addition, the illustrations were beyond cute. I absolutely loved how the author made Chamelia "stand out" with her textured and patterned clothes -- I think he used mixed media on Chamelia while the rest of the characters were drawn as "normal." I especially liked Chamelia's particular color of green!

While the story is certainly entertaining as it is, there are more opportunities for some book-related fun. The publisher has posted some fun downloads relating to CHAMELIA including a maze, a matching game, and a coloring page. Be sure to check them out if you want a better idea of how adorable Chamelia is!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too! 
 

Review: The Year We Left Home

Summary: Over the course of a thirty-year career, Jean Thompson has been celebrated by critics as "a writer of extraordinary intelligence and sensitivity" (O, The Oprah Magazine), "an American Alice Munro" (The Wall Street Journal), and "one of our most lucid and insightful writers" (San Francisco Chronicle). Her peers have been no less vocal, from Jennifer Egan ("bracing . . . boldly unconventional") to David Sedaris ("if there are 'Jean Thompson characters,' they're us, and never have we been as articulate and worthy of compassion"). 

Now, in The Year We Left Home, Thompson brings together all of her talents to deliver the career-defining novel her admirers have been waiting for: a sweeping and emotionally powerful story of a single American family during the tumultuous final decades of the twentieth century. It begins in 1973 when the Erickson family of Grenada, Iowa, gathers for the wedding of their eldest daughter, Anita. Even as they celebrate, the fault lines in the family emerge. The bride wants nothing more than to raise a family in her hometown, while her brother Ryan watches restlessly from the sidelines, planning his escape. He is joined by their cousin Chip, an unpredictable, war-damaged loner who will show Ryan both the appeal and the perils of freedom. Torrie, the Ericksons' youngest daughter, is another rebel intent on escape, but the choices she makes will bring about a tragedy that leaves the entire family changed forever. 

Stretching from the early 1970s in the Iowa farmlands to suburban Chicago to the coast of contemporary Italy—and moving through the Vietnam War's aftermath, the farm crisis, the numerous economic boomsand busts—The Year We Left Home follows the Erickson siblings as they confront prosperity and heartbreak, setbacks and triumphs, and seek their place in a country whose only constant seems to be breathtaking change. Ambitious, richly told, and fiercely American, this is a vivid and moving meditation on our continual pursuit of happiness and an incisive exploration of the national character. -- Simon & Schuster

I first heard about THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME by Jean Thompson when I picked up my Entertainment Weekly a few weeks ago. They gave the book an A- rating which is pretty good for a book, and I usually find that their book recommendations are spot on for me. Plus, the book's description made me think this book would be right up my alley.

And it most definitely was. THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME was an outstanding novel and yet I'm finding that it's difficult to write this review. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it captivating, and yet it's kind of hard to summarize what happened. The book was filled with many quiet, almost uneventful moments -- rather like real life.

THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME is the story of the Erickson family -- a pretty normal American family from Iowa with a mother and father, two sons and two daughters. (And, there's also a strange cousin Chip who was somewhat damaged after fighting in the Vietnam War.) The novel covers about a 30 year time span including the end of the Vietnam War, the decline of farming, the rise and fall of the tech sector, and 9-11. The story is told through the eyes of six intriguing characters, and the reader gets a glimpse into the innermost workings of their personal lives -- from marriage, to infidelity, to divorce, to parenthood, to career changes, etc.

In many ways, I found THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME to be almost like a collection of inner-related short stories. Really, I think each chapter could stand-alone as a very strong story, yet the beauty of the novel was in how all of these family stories tied together. The chapters alternated between the different characters and covered events that occurred over much of their adult years. I think one of the things that made THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME so very special is that the lives of the Erickson family were basically normal -- just like my family's and friends' lives. In fact, it was the ordinariness of the characters and their actions that made this book so extraordinary in my mind.

Another truly wonderful thing about THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME were the characters. I found each and every character in this book (even the minor ones) to be so real -- they all resonated with me on some level. I was extremely impressed with how Ms. Thompson brought them to life and made me care so much about them (even the less likable ones.) And I surprised by how much I was drawn into and related to both the ups and downs of their lives, especially when each character first left the security of their home and family life.

While reading THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME, it quickly became evident that Ms. Thompson is an incredibly talented writer -- I mean truly gifted. Prior to this novel, I had never read a book written by Ms. Thompson before, and I have to wonder what rock I've been living under. Ms. Thompson's fiction is critically-acclaimed and she has even been a finalist for the National Book Award. I was blown away by the beauty of her prose and her exquisitely drawn characters, and I will certainly be adding some of her other works to my wish list.

THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME would make a perfect discussion book! I'm sure different characters will resonate differently with the individual members of your group, and I can only imagine how interesting it would be to discuss their lives and compare/contrast with your own family. There is a really good reading guide available with 17 questions that is sure to spark some discussion. Some of the topics you might want to discuss include family, marriage, parenthood, addiction, infidelity, new beginnings, tragedy, grief, loss, and the meaning of "home."

I treasured each and every page of THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME. It is a beautifully written novel that explores families, home, and happiness; and I think book clubs who appreciate literary fiction are going to love this book. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this novel.

Review: The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus

Summary:
My name is Holly.
This story is about me—
a writer who's way behind
on her deadline. 

But, honestly,
how can I concentrate on my work
when my fiftieth birthday's
rushing at me like a freight train, 

my hormones are making me feel
like a Szechuan flambé,
and my eighty-year-old mother's
biting her nurses? 

Not to mention the fact that my daughter's
just begun applying to colleges
(none of which are within
a thousand-mile radius of home), 

and lately my husband's been
such an irritating, finger-pointing stinker
that I've found myself dreaming of ways
to spend his insurance money . . . 

My name is Holly.
This book
tells my story—
a coming-of-middle-age story. -- Harper

I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up THE HUNCHBACK OF NEIMAN MARCUS: A NOVEL ABOUT MARRIAGE, MOTHERHOOD, AND MAYHEM by Sonya Sones. I guess I was expecting some sort of mom lit based on the cute front cover, and the novel definitely did have some mom lit elements. However, I was so surprised that the entire book was written in verse. THE HUNCHBACK OF NEIMAN MARCUS was incredibly original, hilarious, and touching at the same time. It was certainly a winner in my book!

In fact, I enjoyed this novel so much that I read it in one sitting. It only took me a few hours because each chapter is written as a poem rather than paragraph form, and since much of the story is humorous, it was a very quick read. Having said that, I don't want to make it sound like THE HUNCHBACK OF NEIMAN MARCUS was all light and fluffy. It most definitely wasn't. Parts of the novel (especially the ones about the relationship between her and her daughter) touched my heart a great deal. As I read about her daughter heading off to college, I teared up and had a big old lump in my throat.

While the main character is this story is a few years older than I am, I could definitely relate to her on many levels. I loved how she portrayed her life as a wife and mother, but I thought the scenes about aging were absolutely hilarious. I guess it's better to laugh about these things than to cry! I had to smile at the scene where she takes her daughter shopping and decides to try on the same shirt as her daughter, and the parts about how she was starting to look like her mother were laugh out-loud funny.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NEIMAN MARCUS is being billed as a "coming-of-middle-age" story, and I honestly think that's the perfect way to describe this novel. The story touches upon many universal themes of middle age including empty nest syndrome, menopause, insecurities about marriage, realizing one's mortality, and dealing with elderly parents. Now many of the themes I mentioned are very real to a lot of people and definitely not funny; however, Ms. Sones manages to handle these serious issues in a way that will make readers smile. That's not to say that she takes any of theses issues lightly (rather the opposite in my opinion). She just shows that all of these things (the good and the bad) constitute our lives. And we do have to laugh sometimes or else we would cry!

I'm not sure that while I was reading THE HUNCHBACK OF NEIMAN MARCUS I was thinking book club book. However, I did find a reading guide for this novel. And then I read the questions and thought, "It actually would be a great discussion book because it delves into so many universal themes." I think I've pretty  much covered the major themes in this book, so you can clearly see how interesting a discussion would be for middle-aged women. Ms. Sones even included a recipe for Butterscotch Brownies in the back of the book that would be perfect to serve at your meeting.

I absolutely loved THE HUNCHBACK OF NEIMAN MARCUS. It was an incredibly fun read, but it was also a story that affected me and touched my heart. And that whole poetry thing was just the bow on the top of the package!

Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this novel. Be sure to listen to Book Club Girl's BlogTalk Radio show with Ms. Sones -- it's a good one.

Review: Bloodroot

Summary: Myra Lamb is a wild girl with mysterious, haint blue eyes who grows up on remote Bloodroot Mountain. Her grandmother, Byrdie, protects her fiercely and passes down “the touch” that bewitches people and animals alike. But when John Odom tries to tame Myra, it sparks a shocking disaster, ripping lives apart. Bloodroot is the dark and riveting story of the legacies—of magic and madness, faith and secrets, passion and loss—that haunt one family across the generations. -- Vintage

I have been wanting to read BLOODROOT by Amy Greene for months after I read a raving review in one of my go-to sources for books - Entertainment Weekly. When I realized that the book was available in paperback and I still hadn't read it, I decided that it was time to select it for book club. That way, I'd have to read it... pitiful, but true. There are just so many good books out there and so little time. I know you know what I mean.

I have to admit that I didn't exactly love BLOODROOT, but it definitely made for an excellent book club discussion. In fact, I ended up appreciating the novel a lot more after I talked about it with my friends for a few hours. It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, because I did. In fact, BLOODROOT is extremely well written. It's just that my expectations were so darn high -- blame those critics. And, I had just finished reading an amazing book which really spoke to me! I have a feeling if I had read BLOODROOT at almost any other time, I might have been blown away by this powerful story.

BLOODROOT tells the story of three generations of very unique women who live in Appalachia. It demonstrates the love between the generations as well as the struggles this family endured. The novel is quite ambitious and spans time from the Great Depression to present day. It explores family love, especially between mothers and daughters, as well as magic, secrets and loss. I found it to be a difficult read at times because of the subject matter -- how much heartache can one family face? However, it was also ultimately a story about hope.

What I found so special about BLOODROOT is that while I definitely consider it literary fiction, it also had an interesting story. (I don't always find that to be the case.) The characters were fascinating and so well developed and I was intrigued by each of their stories. I appreciated how the author incorporated some elements of magic into this story as well as the power that possible curses had on a few of the characters. All in all, BLOODROOT was an extremely good novel (and some have even say excellent), and I feel as if I should have loved it. However, I think it's probably more accurate to say that I appreciated the novel rather than loved it. Does that make sense?

One thing I found very special about BLOODROOT was how Ms. Greene told the story. She used a variety of narrators -- six very different people -- including the three generations of women. I was very impressed with how well she captured the voice of each narrator and how complex all six individuals were. The transitions between the characters' stories were seamless -- I'm sure this was especially difficult with so many different characters and voices. In addition, I loved how the author wove the many themes and symbols throughout all six of the characters' stories. BLOODROOT was truly a beautifully written novel.

As I mentioned before, BLOODROOT was an awesome discussion book (if I do say so myself.) There is a reader's guide available with 23 thought-provoking questions. Really, there are way more than 23 since multiple questions are included on each question. My group had already discussed the book for awhile before looking at the questions, so we decided to pick and choose which questions worked for us. However, all of the questions are excellent and are guaranteed to generate some heavy discussion. Some of the topics that you might want to explore include family, loss, parenting, mental illness, addiction, loyalty, magic, secrets, healing, gifts, redemption, and the symbolism of the bloodroot flower. In fact, there is a great deal of symbolism in this story which my group found especially interesting.

Just a little aside: One girl in my book club alternated between a hard copy and the audio of BLOODROOT. She absolutely loved the audio version which was narrated by six different people. Personally, I think her experience of hearing these voices brought the book to the next level for her. She definitely had some interesting insight into the novel -- maybe because of listening to the story rather than reading it?

If you enjoy literary fiction and are looking for a very good book club pick, then I highly recommend BLOODROOT. I'm not sure it was my favorite book of 2011, but it is memorable and one that I appreciated a great deal.

Thanks to the publisher for sending a review copy of this novel.

Guest Review: A Conflict of Interest

Summary: Alex Miller is a criminal defense attorney and, at thirty-five, the youngest partner in one of the most powerful law firms in New York City. He's a man at the top of his game with the life he's always dreamed of, complete with a devoted wife, who remains patient with his long hours and high-stakes cases, and the love of a beautiful young daughter. 

At his father's funeral, Alex meets Michael Ohlig—a mysterious and nearly mythic figure in Miller family history—who presents Alex with a surprising request: to represent him in a high-profile criminal investigation . . . an alleged brokerage scam that has lost hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. Wealthy beyond words, Ohlig insists he's done nothing wrong, and Alex, who's experienced enough to know that clients always lie, uncharacteristically believes him. 

As the facts come out, shocking secrets are revealed that threaten everything Alex believes in–about the law, his family, and himself. Yet Alex's desperate need for the truth propels him to unscrupulous depths, and to confront a past defined by deception and a future in jeopardy . . . with the realization that one false step could destroy everything Alex holds dear. 

In an electrifying debut the likes of which legal thriller fans have not seen since Scott Turow's pulse-pounding thriller Presumed Innocent, Adam Mitzner tells a shocking story of suspense that heralds a bold new voice in fiction. -- Gallery

So many books, so little time -- and that's why I'm so grateful for my dad. I know I would have loved A CONFLICT OF INTEREST by Adam Mitzner, but I also knew that he could read and review it much more quickly that I could. Here are his thoughts:

Alex Miller, criminal defense attorney and partner in a prestigious New York law firm, meets Michael Ohlig at his father’s funeral where Ohlig, a long time friend of Alex’s mother and father, hires Alex to represent him in a securities fraud case. Author Adam Mitzner, with his background as an attorney, brings to life the legal representation and courtroom activity in A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. His give-and-take between attorney and client, between attorneys and judge and between opposing attorneys is great court action and brings a real life feel to how the legal system works. 

But A CONFLICT OF INTEREST is much more than a novel about a securities fraud case. It is a story about complex relationships and betrayal. As the case proceeds through the courts, facts arise that bring much confusion and conflict to Alex’s life including the relationships with his wife and daughter, his parents, his attractive legal associate, his client and his law firm. How the characters deal with each of these conflicts is the real story. Mitzner’s character development is definitely the strong point of the novel as the characters are complex, each with flaws and personal agendas.

A CONFLICT OF INTEREST is a well written easy-to-read legal suspense thriller that will keep the reader turning the pages. There are lots of twists and turns and the surprises never stop until the very end. This is Adam Mitzner’s first novel and I believe it is a great start to a promising career.  

Thanks to Booking Pap Pap for his great review and to FSB Associates for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: Gone With a Handsomer Man

Summary: Take one out-of-work pastry chef . . .

Teeny Templeton believes that her life is finally on track. She’s getting married, she’s baking her own wedding cake, and she’s leaving her troubled past behind. And then? She finds her fiancé playing naked badminton with a couple of gorgeous, skanky chicks.

Add a whole lot of trouble . . .

Needless to say, the wedding is off. Adding insult to injury, her fiancé slaps a restraining order on her. When he’s found dead a few days later, all fingers point to Teeny.

And stir like crazy!

Her only hope is through an old boyfriend-turned-lawyer, the guy who broke her heart a decade ago. But dredging up the past brings more than skeletons out of the closet, and Teeny doesn’t know who she can trust. With evidence mounting and the heat turning up, Teeny must also figure out where to live, how to support herself, how to clear her name, and how to protect her heart. -- Minotaur

In my pre-blogging days, I used to read all of Michael Lee West's novels. I remember them being a lot of fun and a great way to escape. So when I discovered that Ms. West has a new book out called GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN, I figured it was a great time to revisit this author. And boy am I glad I did. This novel was not only very funny with some extremely quirky characters, but it was also a mystery -- and perfect for Mystery Mondays! I don't think I knew that it was a mystery when I started reading it -- I just assumed it was Southern chick lit. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised!

Teeny Templeton's life seems to be on the right track. She's getting married to a "great" guy and she's even taking classes so she can make and decorate her own wedding cake. When her class is canceled at the last minute, she comes home to find her fiancee rollicking with two naked women. Her life immediately comes crashing down a few days later when her ex-fiance is found dead. Guess who's the primary suspect?

But it gets really interesting when Teeny runs into her first love Coop and they decide to rekindle their old romance. Things get pretty hot and heavy between the two, but when Teeny needs Coop's expertise as a lawyer, they are forced to slow down. You know... that whole professional distance thing. There was a pretty big romance aspect to this novel and I enjoyed the chemistry (and complications) between Teeny and Coop. I'm not the best judge, but I'm pretty sure that fans of romance will be pleased with these scenes.

GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN also will appeal to foodies. Teeny loves to cook (and eat) and I could certainly relate to her constant preoccupation with food. The descriptions of the cakes (and the rest of the food) were wonderful and made me want to start baking, and the author even included a few recipes in the back of the book. There were also many references to Teeny's unusual family cookbook which caused me to chuckle a few times.

Even though I really liked this novel, I'm not sure the mystery part of the story was my favorite element. It did keep me guessing for awhile, although I'm happy to say that I did figure out who was the culprit before the end of the book (and that's very unusual for me!) To me, the beauty of this story was the characters... and, of course, the humor. I cannot tell you how many times GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN made me laugh out loud. Ms. West's writing is very funny and these characters that she created are downright hilarious.

While I wasn't exactly surprised by the resolution of the mystery, the last sentence of the book knocked me for a loop. (Do not skip to the back of the book -- just let yourself be surprised!) It was a fun twist and definitely sets up a sequel. I sincerely hope Ms. West has one in the works because I look forward to reading about more of Teeny's antics and her potential relationship with Coop.

I thoroughly enjoyed GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN and I highly recommend it to fans of Southern fiction, food books, chick lit and mysteries. It's a very funny read and perfect for summer reading.

Thanks to AuthorOnTheWeb for sending a copy of this book.

Mystery Mondays is a "somewhat" regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

May 2011 Book Club Meeting

Summary: Myra Lamb is a wild girl with mysterious, haint blue eyes who grows up on remote Bloodroot Mountain. Her grandmother, Byrdie, protects her fiercely and passes down “the touch” that bewitches people and animals alike. But when John Odom tries to tame Myra, it sparks a shocking disaster, ripping lives apart. Bloodroot is the dark and riveting story of the legacies—of magic and madness, faith and secrets, passion and loss—that haunt one family across the generations. -- Vintage

A few days ago, my book club met for our May meeting and we discussed BLOODROOT by Amy Greene. I actually hosted the meeting and was the one who chose this novel because I had read so many amazing reviews. I appreciated the novel, but I didn't love it like I had hoped. Maybe my expectations were too high? I think most of our group agreed with me though -- the book was good and the story was interesting, but it didn't blow away any of us.

Having said that, I loved our discussion of the novel -- it was a very interesting book to dissect. I found it intriguing how the various members of our group interpreted things in the story differently when I was pretty sure that the events were obvious (I realized they weren't at all obvious after further analysis!) I can honestly say that after our discussion, I realized that BLOODROOT was a pretty darn good novel. I definitely appreciated it much more and talking about it for a few hours with my friends.

Next month, we will be reading STILL ALICE by Lisa Genova. I have been wanting to read this book for quite awhile now so I'm glad that I now have the excuse I need to "make" me read it. I have heard such wonderful things about this book; however, I have a feeling that it won't be an easy read for me because of the subject matter. Regardless, I am looking forward to reading and discussing this novel.

Have any of you read STILL ALICE? What did you think? Is it a good discussion book?

Summary: She didn't want to become someone people avoided and feared. She wanted to live to hold Anna's baby and know it was her grandchild. She wanted to see Lydia act in something she was proud of. She wanted to see Tom fall in love. She wanted to read every book she could before she could no longer read. 

Alice Howland is proud of the life she has worked so hard to build. A Harvard professor, she has a successful husband and three grown children. When Alice begins to grow forgetful at first she just dismisses it, but when she gets lost in her own neighbourhood she realises that something is terribly wrong. Alice finds herself in the rapid downward spiral of Alzheimer's disease. She is only 50 years old. 

While Alice once placed her worth and identity in her celebrated and respected academic life, now she must re-evaluate her relationship with her husband, her expectations of her children and her ideas about herself and her place in the world. 

Losing her yesterdays, her short-term memory hanging on by a couple of frayed threads, she is living in the moment, living for each day. But she is still Alice. 

Still Alice is as compelling as A Beautiful Mind and as powerful as Ordinary People. You will gain an understanding of those affected by early-onset Alzheimer's and remain moved and inspired long after you have put it down. -- Gallery