FRIDAY: Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper series

This is a long-time favorite series for me staring Benni Harper, a widow, who is the director of a folk-art museum in California. Fool's Puzzle is the first in the series and Tumbling Blocks is the most recent, #13. The author has written a couple stand alone books in recent years (The Saddlemakers Wife - which I read and enjoyed - and Love Mercy which I reviewed here), but according to her website, a new Benni Harper book should be out in May of 2010 (State Fair).

In the Benni Harper series, you get to enjoy Benni's ranching family, a love interest, and a whole bunch of cozy mysteries! Each book is named for a quilting pattern, and quilts and other crafts are featured through Benni's work at the folk-art museum.This is a series I enjoy re-reading. You can bet I will be first in line for the new book when it releases!

THURSDAY: You're Teaching My Child What?

Another gem discovered while browsing the new non-fiction shelf at our fantastic local library! This is an alarming book about the things taught by sex education "experts" in our culture. The author highlights the qualifications (or lack thereof) of personnel at websites that are recommended to teens who want more information about sex, birth control and disease prevention. She talks about the physical and emotional realities of sex for teenage girls and how different they are from boys. This was a book I had to read with my thumb in the notes section at the back of the book. The notes are extensive, offering additional information rather than just the title of the work cited. The notes were as informative as the meat of the book. The author clarifies that she is an Orthodox Jew and she shares the moral values of abstinence, but she writes the book as a physician and a scientist first and foremost, so there is little if any religious content in her discussion.

If you are looking for a non-religious discussion of sex education and information how to best prepare your own children, this is a great resource!

WEDNESDAY: The Unlikely Disciple

While visiting Rev. Falwell's church, doing research for the author A. J. Jacobs (The Year of Living Biblically), Roose realized how little he knew about evangelical Christians. He decided to transfer to Liberty University for a semester "undercover" to see what he could learn. (He looked at it like a semester abroad, which is a clever analogy for his experience.)

The book chronicles his semester - relationships with other students, his coursework (Old and New Testament studies, a course called History of Life), dating under Liberty's conduct rules, and taking an evangelism trip to Florida for Spring Break. Some of the most interesting moments are told in asides as Roose tries to reconcile his personal belief system and morals with those espoused by Liberty and his fellow students. Roose's semester at Liberty ends with an interview of Rev. Falwell for the school paper - one of the last interviews of Falwell's life.

This was a fascinating look into Liberty University and it's students as well as a look into the mind and heart of an "outsider" as he negotiates the conservative Christian landscape.

TUESDAY: Binky the Space Cat

The cover first got my attention - isn't Binky darling? Binky enjoys his life with his humans and his stuffed mousie. But he secretly longs to be a Space Cat, fighting aliens (bugs) and exploring outer space (the back yard). There are several smaller stories woven into the book - Binky as a kitten, his relationship with his humans, his training regimen to fight aliens, and his quest for space travel.

This graphic novel is a treat! I think even adult cat lovers would love Binky. Amazon lists it for ages 9 to 12, but my 6 year old giggled through the whole thing. The illustrations are clever and endearing and are the basis for most of the humor in the story. I hope there will be more adventures for Binky in the future!

MONDAY: Leonardo the Terrible Monster

Leonardo is a terrible monster - and by that, I mean he isn't very good at being a monster. He is small and cute, so no one is very afraid of him. He decides that he will find the most skittish kid he can so he is guaranteed a victory. But Leonardo's victory isn't all it is cracked up to be. Leonardo has to decide how much he wants to be a fearsome monster.

This is my favorite Mo Willems book. My son giggles through the whole thing when we read it. While I don't generally go for scary, Halloween-ish books this time of year, Leonardo lets us do something for the season that is tame and fun with no risk of nightmares!

Check out Leonardo this October!

FRIDAY: Heat Wave

Nikki Heat and the guys on her team with NYPD have a convoluted case on their hands. Being followed around by popular - and handsome - journalist Jameson Rook is a distraction Nikki doesn't need. She has enough on her plate with the dead real estate tycoon, his trophy wife, bookies and goons, and a missing art collection.

Yes, you read that author name correctly - Richard Castle. As in "Castle," the character in ABC's show by the same name. If you haven't seen it, Castle is a famous mystery author who is shadowing a detective and her team in the name of research. It is a funny show that we watch every week without fail. The book reads a little cheesy at first - just like Castle. The interplay between the characters in Heat Wave will be familiar to fans of the show.

I thought the mystery in Heat Wave was good. Lots of possibilities, twists, turns and increasingly complicated clues. I had the person pegged before the end, but not the motive. I like when I have to keep reading to figure out how everything works together. I was disappointed that Heat and Rook fall into bed together in the very first book. I prefer a little more flirting and tension to keep things interesting for a few more books as readers wonder, "Will they or won't they?" [Sensitive readers should also know there is nudity in the book.]

I would definitely read another book in the series.

THURSDAY: Nurture Shock

I had been hearing about this book a lot, so when I saw it at the library, I snatched it up. Each chapter looks at research on a different topic related to children - praise, peer relationships, lying, sleep, brain development, etc. The authors are transparent about their expectations and often the research does not fit those expectations, making it all the more interesting.

If you like non-fiction and reading about children and their development or about parenting, this is a great new resource for you. If you are struggling with a child who is lying, the chapter on lying could be enlightening for you. The authors have an extensive website, with links to related information if you want to know more about the studies and results described in the book. The book is shorter than it may seem in person; there are 100 pages of notes and an index that take up a good chunk of the volume.

I am discussing some of the research in more detail at my personal blog this week and next week - come check it out and weigh in on some of the questions!

WEDNESDAY: The Power of a Praying....

This is one book in a "series" of books on prayer by Stormie Omartian. Each one talks about praying for the people and responsibilities you have in the role in question - parent, wife, teen, etc.

Each book takes a couple pages to talk about an area of prayer and then gives a sample prayer that the reader can use for his/her own prayer time or as a model for speaking or writing a prayer. I particularly enjoyed this one for a praying parent. The author recommends spending time in prayer and thought/conversation about areas to pray for in the coming year. Before school begins is a great time for this. I decided to try it this year. I made a running list of prayers and priorities for my son for the school year - relationships with teachers, academic growth, peer relationships, and for the struggles I know he has. That list led me to do the same for my husband and myself. I put the list in a journal where I could refer to it during my prayer time. I also added a section for prayer requests outside our family. It is great to look back and see where God has answered prayer over time.

If you are looking for a guide to help you shape your prayer time for your family or for yourself, check out this line of resources.

TUESDAY: Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin

I have shared my love of Roscoe Riley before, but I wanted to highlight the latest book in the series, pefectly timed for fall.

Roscoe is learning about estimating at school, which comes in handy when he has a chance to win a huge pile of books for his school library (and a huge pile of candy for himself). All he has to do is enter a guess on the weight of the giant pumpkin at the bookstore. The only problem is a little black kitten named No Name. Roscoe is convinced No Name is bad luck. Can he get past his superstition and complete his entry?

I thoroughly enjoyed Roscoe's latest adventure, although I thought his reason for being in time out wasn't as clear cut as in other books in the series. Nevertheless, this is another great adventure with an extra sweet ending.

MONDAY: There Is a Bird on Your Head

I don't think you can go wrong with a Mo Willems book, but I have not followed the Elephant and Piggie line very closely. I first heard about this book from my sister-in-law with a strong recommendation from my nieces (ages 4 and 7). Since they loved it, I reserved it at the library immediately.

Elephant has a bird on his head - and he doesn't like it very much. He likes it even less when the first bird is joined by a second and they start to make Elephant's head their new home. Piggie's facial expressions and Elephant's exasperation are a hoot, but nothing compared to the great ending. These books are just right for my early reader - the story captures his attention and the language is manageable for his reading level.

You can find out about more of Mo Willems' books here. You can also go here and also here to read about Mo at the National Book Festival. Come back next Monday and read about my all time favorite Mo Willems book!

FRIDAY: Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews

This is one of my favorite mystery series. I seem to be drawn towards series with punny titles and laugh-out-loud moments and this series has both. My poor husband has been "treated" to many sections of the books because I find them so funny I want to share them with someone.

Murder with Peacocks is the first in the series and Swan for the Money is the most recent. Each mystery usually has something to do with birds, either directly or peripherally. Meg's family is completely wacky, which is part of what makes the series fun. I love that Meg has a "notebook-that-tells-me-when-to-breathe." I have notebooks and clipboards and lists that do the same for me! The mysteries are well plotted which is important when a series is 11 books long - other series that I have loved have gotten lame over time. Not true with Donna Andrews. If you like laughter with your mystery, check out this series!

THURSDAY: It's Not All Flowers and Sausages

Mrs. Mimi is a blogger who shares her adventures with her "little friends" in second grade - and her frustrations with disengaged parents, useless administrators and thoughtless colleagues. Her stories range from sweet to hilarious to appalling. Some readers should be warned that she uses profanity on her blog and in the book.

For parents, there are great insights into the teacher's journey with a class from August to June. Teachers will likely find themselves having one of three reactions (or, at times, all three).
*"Oh, I have SO been there!"
*"Oh, you think that's bad? Let me tell you about...."
*"Thank goodness my co-workers and administrators are nothing like that!"

WEDNESDAY: The Noticer

[I am a reviewer for Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger Program. I received an electronic copy of this book to read and review with no promise of a positive review.]

Jones is a mysterious man. He's there for awhile and then disappears. He always has on the same clothes, and carries the same briefcase. No one knows where he lives. He knows so much about so many people. He has an easy way about him - casual, approachable. But he is also very direct. He sees right to the heart of things and offers fresh perspective to long-term problems. It isn't a surprise that people are drawn to him, and that those he helps are so pleased to see him when he returns.

I was not a fan of this book. There were touching moments in some of the interactions Jones has with characters who are struggling, but I felt they were only loosely tied together into a "story." I kept wondering where it was all headed and couldn't pin down a structure. Some of the interactions seemed lifted right out of those emails people are always forwarding to one another, like the one about the person buried with the fork in his hand. Another section loosely rehashes love languages. It felt unoriginal. I did like the messages about perspective - reframing how we look at life's difficulties, seeing things through the eyes of others, etc., but those weren't enough for me to give this a positive review. If I were giving stars, I would give this book 2.5.

TUESDAY: I Was a Third Grade Science Project

Three boys - Josh, Brian and Dougie - try to hypnotize a dog into thinking he's a cat for their science project. They watch the dog carefully for cat-like behavior, not noticing that Josh is the one showing odd behavior. When the science projects are put on display for the parents, it becomes obvious that Josh is the one who thinks he's a cat!

We stumbled across this book at the library and I checked it out for bedtime reading with my son because he likes science and the idea was cute. We all enjoyed hearing about Josh's transformation and waiting for everyone to figure out what was going on.

BONUS - check out this blog post about reading. I really liked it!

MONDAY: Mama Robot

This starts as a sort of sad little story about a boy with a busy mom who decides to build a Mama Robot to fill in the gaps for his own mama. But, as you might guess, he takes things a little far. Mama Robot lets him skip brushing his teeth, eat whatever he wants, and she does all of his homework. While that might be fun for awhile, he realizes that Mama Robot is no fun to snuggle and hug, so he decides to dismantle Mama Robot and make something new.

I loved the illustrations - they are often the first thing that will draw me to pick up a book. I think the picture book-set will love the book with its helpful Mama Robot. The mamas reading the book might be a little more distressed by the lonely little boy who feels he needs a robot to fill in when his mom isn't around, but everything works out in the end.

FRIDAY: Heather Wells series

Heather Wells is a former teen pop star. Her mom ran off with her money and her boyfriend dumps her, so she has to strike out on her own. Her ex's hunky brother offers her a place to stay while she sorts out her life. She gets a job as an assistant dorm director, hoping to offset the cost of college by working for the school. When students start to die, Heather starts to use her campus relationships to help her investigate.

In subsequent stories, murder continues to occur on campus (victims include a cheerleader who loses her head and an interim dorm director), and Heather's personal life gets more complicated with boyfriends and her ex-con father. I wouldn't say these books are "great literature" or even the best mysteries I have ever read. But I thought they were a fun combination of mystery and chick lit, and I liked them enough to stalk the library shelves whenever a new book was released.

THURSDAY: Don't Know Much about History

I originally picked this up last fall when I found out I was going to be teaching history. I wanted a resource that would give me a quick background for whatever I was going to cover. This book was perfect! No matter what topic we were covering, or what questions my students asked, I could look the topic up in this book and get just enough information to fill in the gaps. I learned new things about Teddy Roosevelt and about the Civil War - things I don't remember from high school or college. Between my classes with my students, and the things I learned from this book, I found history interesting. If you read the reviews on Amazon, it is a mixed bag. Some question Davis' research and "gaps" in his information. If you want a serious commentary on an era of history, there are better options. But if you are just looking for a quick overview and a starting point or a nice resource for the home library, this could be a good choice for you. It is "meaty" at almost 700 pages, but easy to read.

MONDAY: Wet Dog

Yes, it's another week when our schedule is a little off - a picture book review on a Wednesday instead of Monday. Had to be done so I could review another book on Monday. But here is your picture book for the week.


An old, furry dog decides the best way to cool off is to get a little wet. And a hose, a sink full of dishes, a mud puddle and a lake seem like perfect spots to cool off and then "shakey-shake, shake." But when the lake is the site of a wedding reception, Wet Dog might be in big trouble.

I especially loved David Catrow's illustrations. They really made this story special. I reviewed another Elise Broach book a few weeks ago, and didn't like those illustrations as much. The story really made the book in that case. In this one, I think it is the illustrations. I just wanted to hug Wet Dog, he looked so sweet.

TUESDAY: Lunch Lady graphic novels

Three kids wonder what their lunch ladies do outside of school. They may be surprised to find out they're superheros with a secret lair (hidden behind a freezer in the school kitchen) and secret weapons (like a spork phone and a lunch tray laptop).

In the first story, Lunch Lady is suspicious of a new substitute teacher who refuses to eat cookies and is giving out an unusual amount of homework. In the second story, something seems strange when the librarians set up for the annual book fair. Is everything normal, or are they conspiring for world domination? The third book releases December 22, 2009.

These were great fun for our whole family to read together. The hero gadgets are very clever and had all of us chuckling. The illustrations are simple - black and white with some yellow shading, making them easy to follow. I can't wait to see what is next in this series (When you check out the website, be sure to listen to the theme song!)and to check out some of the author's other work.

WEDNESDAY: Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham

Trading days again this week! Come back Wednesday for a picture book review.


Ladies, are you feeling overwhelmed? Looking for balance? Wondering why you aren't happier with your life? Marcus Buckingham would say it is because you aren't playing enough to your strengths. Find the experiences where you feel at your best, most energized, most "in the groove," and capitalize on them. Cultivate MORE of them and change how you are feeling about your life.

This is the sort of book that catches my eye at the bookstore. I am always looking for more insight into who I am and what I should be doing with my life. For others looking for that sort of book, I highly recommend Find your Strongest Life. I found a lot of statements that spoke to my experiences and the things I want for my life. I would have liked it if he would have used more examples of women who stay home with kids who are also looking for their "strongest life." I also would have preferred a place to write answers to the questions he poses in the chapter summaries. The faith angle was also very minor, which surprised me from a book published by Thomas Nelson. But those are minor complaints compared to the things I enjoyed. This is the kind of book I would give to friends for Christmas to encourage them in their own journey.

There is a "test" that you can take here to find out what your leading and supporting roles are. I love that the test is free (you just need a copy of the book to know what the results mean and how to apply them). The questions were difficult for me to answer at times. Some dealt with work situations that were outside my experience, even before I started working from home. I also wasn't convinced that my results were accurate when I first got them and read the names of my two roles. When I read the descriptions, though, I was surprised at how close they were.

I am a reviewer for Thomas Nelson and I highly recommend this book. [I received a free copy of this book to read and review with no expectation of a positive review.]

FRIDAY: Alice Kimberly series

The Ghost and Mrs. McClure is the first book in a mildly supernatural mystery series by "Alice Kimberly" (Cleo Coyle, author of the Coffeehouse mystery series). I say "mildly supernatural " because the paranormal has become the latest trend in books and some push my boundaries of what is evil and what is interesting reading. This series does not push that boundary.

In the first book, Penelope Thornton-McClure manages a mystery bookstore with her Aunt Sadie. Unfortunately, an author signing books in her store keels over right after linking the store to a decades-old murder. Pen would like to get to the bottom of what happened to the author, especially since it happened in her store. She finds help from an unlikely source - the ghost living in her bookstore, the victim of the very murder the author had mentioned before dying.

Second in the series is The Ghost and the Dead Deb. Third is The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library. The most recent volumes are The Ghost and The Femme Fatale and The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion. These last two are on my TBR pile ("to be read"), but I enjoyed the first three in the series. I did not realize that Cleo Coyle was writing this series until I pulled the last two books out for this review. I have tried the Coffeehouse series, but haven't connected with it so far. I may have to give those another try.

THURSDAY: Strengths Finder 2.0

I am forever on the look out for a resource that will tell me more about myself and what I should be doing with my life, gifts, and time. Strengths Finder 2.0 was one of the resources I tried. Each new book comes with a code you can use to take an inventory online. When you take the assessment, you are given 5 top strengths. The book then explains the big-picture of strengths-based assessment and gives details on each of the strengths the test assesses. I found the assessment to be pretty accurate. I felt like the strengths it listed for me were on target.

I have also read Teach with your Strengths and Living Your Strengths which are by the same publisher and also very good.