We read this a couple of months ago for book club and it was fantastic! I love to read biographies; it's fascinating to find out about who people really are and the experiences that have shaped them.
Before reading this I knew next to nothing about Julie Andrews. I'd seen a few of her movies - Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Victor/Victoria and the Princess Diaries, but that was the extent of it.
Just like anyone else, she's had her share of trials and I was amazed at some of the things she went through. As we were talking about this at book club, a couple of the women pointed out that she didn't seem to be bitter about the negative experiences. There wasn't any malice in her voice, she simply stated the way things were. She seems to be a very forgiving and kind person.
The book begins with some family history and ends just after she gives birth to her daughter Emma. I'm hoping that she writes another book that talks about her career after that point. I looked her up on Wikipedia and her accomplishments are extensive. What I like most about Julie Andrews is that, even in writing her story, she never seemed to have the 'Diva Attitude' that is so prevalent in celebrities today. All of the things she did, all of the famous people she met and worked with - it was simply the way things were, it was her life.
We recently discovered this book at our library and it is laugh out loud funny! A hilarious story is my favorite kind of children's book :)This poor squirrel is afraid of all kinds of things, including, but not limited to, spiders, germs and aliens. He refuses to leave his tree and his days follow a strict schedule that never changes. That is, until he accidentally falls out of his tree. We love it so much I may just have to head over to Borders and pick up a copy - it's definitely a family favorite :)
This has been a favorite book of ours since Andrew was little. The cute little monster in the story talks about all the things his mother does that makes him feel loved, like giving him lizard juice with ice when he's sick, or taking him to the swap to swim. The illustrations are fun and colorful - Mark Buehner is one of my favorite illustrators. I love everything that he does.
This book is adorable - you'll probably want to buy a copy of your own :)
I was very touched by this book and will certainly read it again. It's the story of a homeless man and a journalist who develop an unlikely and somewhat unusual friendship.
Nathaniel Ayers was a cellist, studying at Juilliard when he developed schizophrenia in his second year. He ended up homeless in the streets of L.A., pushing his belongings around in a shopping cart and playing an old violin. Steve Lopez, a columnist for the L.A. Times, saw Nathaniel on the street one day and, after trying to talk to him, decided to write a column about Nathaniel. They slowly develop a friendship, and Steve becomes very involved in helping Nathaniel with his schizophrenia. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking story - I didn't want to put it down. I couldn't help but think, do I understand friendship in the way that Steve and Nathaniel do? Obviously, their relationship is very unique, but how much time and effort am I willing to put into my relationships? Am I interested in what's best for them, or what's best for me? I hope the answer to these questions is a positive one.
I have to give this book 5 stars. I love the illustrations, I love the story, I love the humor.
Here's how it begins:
"Friday is errand day. My mom goes on boring errands, and I have to go with her."
After reading that first page, I knew Andrew was going to love the book. He hates running errands with me, and the kid in the story looks a lot like Andrew does when I tell him he has to come with me.
Eventually, despair turns to delight as the little boy discovers that on this particular Friday, complimentary dinosaurs are being given with every purchase - in every store! And we're not talking about tiny plastic dinosaurs. These are huge, scaly, real-life dinosaurs. As if his mother needed one more thing to bring home!
I don't know about you - but that's pretty close to the way my shopping trips go. I have a few specific things on my list and end up with all kinds of things in the cart. No doubt it's junk that I'm going to be picking up off the floor in a few hours when the kids are tired of it. Luckily, the mother in this story is able to find a use for all the dinosaurs who now inhabit her backyard.
I just finished reading this with Andrew (my 5 year old) and it was just as magical as I remember it. This is my first time rereading the series, and I was surprised at some of the details I'd forgotten.Andrew, Chris and I discussed it over dinner last night. It's amazing to me how much Andrew understood. I thought a lot of it would be over his head, but if you ask him to explain the book, he can do it in great detail. He keeps asking questions about how or why things work and I have to admit - he stumps me sometimes. Most of his questions have never occurred to me before. Are all children smarter than their parents?
