How Many Cats?

At the beginning of the year my goal was to post at least one book a day, and I did pretty well...for awhile. Somehow I missed a day and then it turned into two, then three - you get the idea. So, here I am picking myself up and trying it again. I'm going to finish one resolution this year, darn it!

I'll be honest - it's been a few weeks since I read this book so I don't remember the plot all that well. I do seem to remember that cats kept coming into the house and creating one disaster after another and I'm pretty sure that they left the house just in time for the dog to be blamed for all the destruction. That's just like a cat.

My kids love cats - their Aunt has two - so I thought they'd like this book. They loved it! And the illustrations caused more than one belly laugh.

Waking Up Wendell

My kids love this cute story about one little bird whose early morning tweeting creates a domino effect that eventually wakes the entire neighborhood.  I love the bright illustrations and subtle humor through the book and my kids like the funny sounds on each page.   Definitely a keeper!

Creaky Old House

This a great story about loving what you have. I know I'm always looking for bigger and better, so a reminder that what we have is more than enough is certainly needed from time to time.

The book begins with the family telling how much they love their creaky old house and then the doorknob on the front door suddenly breaks. They try to repair it with a new screw, but when that doesn't work, the family heads off to find a new doorknob at the hardware store. Before long, every fix turns into something bigger until they've drawn up plans to completely remodel the house!

Great story, fun rhyming text and colorful pictures - I love this book!

Good Boy Fergus!

Have you ever noticed people who think their dogs are cute no matter what they do? Well, Fergus' owner happens to be one of those people.

I think this story definitely qualifies as "Laugh Out Loud" funny. I love the part where Fergus gets whipped cream on his dog food and my kids love the part where Fergus leaves his mark all over the neighborhood. I tried to fight it, but when my husband is the one pointing out all the places Fergus has relieved himself, I know that it's a losing battle. Boys will be boys - even grown up ones, so I may as well just go along with it.

David Gets in Trouble

We're back with David for another adventure, but this time he has a new trick up his sleeve - Deny Everything! "I didn't mean to!", "I forgot!", and "But Dad says it!" are just a few of the ways that David tries to avoid trouble.

My boys like this one just as much as the other David books, although I think they were a little shocked when I explained the concept of having one's mouth washed out with soap. Let's hope it never comes to that.

David Goes to School

In the second book of the series, David goes to school and discovers that it isn't just moms who say no - it's teachers too. And if you think time out is bad, just wait until you have to stay after school to clean all the desks.

I think I should say that I was never one of those kids who broke the rules in school. Except for that time in first grade when I was showing off for a boy (I promise - I just wanted him to think I was cool), and cut a smallish chunk of my hair. The little twerp told on me and her reaction was much the same as David's teacher. Ugh - boys!

No, David!

I'll be the first to admit that the illustrations in this series of books are definitely not my style - and a little bit creepy - however, I was able to look past all that long enough to read the books to my kids.

Children hear the word "NO" quite a bit in one day - I should know, because I say it to my own kids. Sometimes, when I have the energy, I try to switch things up a bit. You know, make things sound more positive. But let's be honest - when the kids are going crazy, you're trying to get dinner on the table, the phone rings and for the fifth time that day you catch your son going for the cookie jar, positive language is the last thing the children will hear coming out of your mouth. Really, I'd be shocked to find a child who couldn't identify with David.

It shouldn't have come as a surprise to me that my boys LOVE this book. Especially the part where David runs (NAKED!) down the street. It's a great opportunity to discuss with the kids why certain behaviors are inappropriate.

As for the strange illustrations...it works. This series is all about the kid's point of view so David's weird, triangular nose, beady black eyes and pointy teeth are perfect just as they are.

The Giving Tree

"Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy. The tree gives this little boy everything she can, because she wants him to be happy. The boy, on the other hand, keeps searching for more until he finds in his old age that happiness was right there in front of him.

What's not to love about this classic? Well, if you read the reviews on Amazon there are mixed feelings. Some praise the author for a beautiful story about unconditional love. Yet others find the little boy to be selfish and codependent. I'm not making this up - I did read a review that said "codependent".

I'll tell you what I think. Does it matter? In my opinion, both messages are good. Not that I encourage selfishness, of course. But isn't it a good opportunity to talk to our kids about both sides of the spectrum?

I think it's a poignant story about what really matters in life and it will always be one of my favorite children's books.

The Treasures of Weatherby

The Treasures of Weatherby is a quick read - I was able to finish it in an evening. I enjoyed the story and it definitely held my interest, but...it wasn't what I expected. The synopsis on the inside cover makes it sound like the story will be much more adventurous than it actually is. Despite the disappointing ending, I still think it's worth reading.

The main character is a 12 year old boy, Harleigh J. Weatherby IV, who lives in the rundown - but famous - Weatherby castle. Harleigh's father is rarely ever home, so he spends most of his time with is overbearing Great Aunt Adelaide and his tutor, Uncle Edgar.

One day, while Harleigh is searching the grounds for the famous Weatherby Maze, he meets a girl about his age who has somehow found a way onto the castle grounds. Her name is Allegra and Harleigh although finds her to be exasperating at times, they become friends over the course of the summer. The trick is, Harleigh has to keep her a secret from his Great Aunt Adelaide. Visitors aren't allowed on the castle grounds and they certainly aren't allowed inside.

While sneaking around the castle, Allegra stumbles onto a mystery - someone is trying to steal the hidden Weatherby treasure. Harleigh doesn't believe her at first, but once he does, it's up to him to keep the treasure safe.

There really wasn't much of a mystery - the kids seemed to figure everything out very quickly. In my opinion, the main point of the story was how Harleigh was able to grow - not just physically, but emotionally and I really liked that.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

As I looked over my blog recently, I was shocked to find that I hadn't yet posted about this book. I read it for book club last winter and it has made it onto my favorites list. It's one I will read over and over again - I'm so glad I purchased my own copy! Since I read it a year ago, there are details I've forgotten, but I'll do my best to give an accurate review.

The story begins in London, just after WWII ends. Juliet Ashton is an author writing under the name Izzy Bickerstaff, doing a series of humorous articles about the war. She writes to her editor (who is also a very close friend) to tell him that she's had enough of war stories and wants to write something new. Little does she know that an opportunity will present itself sooner rather than later.

A man by the name of Dawsey Adams, a farmer on the island of Guernsey, finds Juliet's name written in a used book by Charles Lamb and writes to her asking if she could possibly find more from the author. Before long they strike up a friendship and Juliet finds that Dawsey is part of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which was started during the German occupation of their island. Asking about the strange name, Juliet finds that it's actually a remarkable story of an eclectic group of people who created the society simply as a cover up for an illicit meal. In order to keep the Germans from becoming suspicious, they continue to meet regularly under the guise of a Literary Society.

Completely caught up in the story and the people of Guernsey, Juliet decides to write a book about them and travels to the island to gather research. It doesn't take long before she falls in love with the people and their culture. In fact, I was so enthralled with the characters that I found myself looking Guernsey up on line and wishing I could take a vacation there myself.

The entire story is told through letters and I found that to be very charming. A person can express things in a letter so much differently than they would through speaking. I think it brought a different dynamic to the story to tell it that way. I loved all of the characters for different reasons, but I think Juliet was my favorite - her sense of humor and quick wit is fantastic!