(Photos by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley)

Reviewing this week:

“Where Did You Come From, Baby Dear?” by George MacDonald, drawings by Jane Dyer (Random House Books for Young Readers, 2018, ages 3-7, 32 pages, $17.99). How is baby? British author MacDonald (1824-1905), a Scottish author, poet and minister, wrote this lovely story about babies touched by cherubs’ wings, made out of love, brought by God. Beautiful, airy pastels by artist Dyer, who has illustrated more than fifty picture books. This one would be a nice gift for new parents.

“William Wakes Up,” written by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Chuck Groenink (Disney-Hyperion, 2019, ages 3-5, 40 pages, $17.99). William, c’mon now. You and your buddies need to wake up. C’mon. You can do it. It’s spring, and it’s time to bake the Welcome Cake. Lovely art, a nice story, and a sweet welcome to spring. (Tell chipmunk, Get. Up!)

“Rosie and Rasmus,” by Serena Geddes (Aladdin, 2019, ages 4-8, $16.99). This one is due for release April 2nd and I cannot wait for the latest from this Australian writer and artist. We have an independent dragon, and a lonely little girl, and let’s see how this friendship will go. It’ll be good. #bffsAnd4ever #dragonsrock #girlpower The copy I have is review only, but the colors, the words — beautiful. Final copy will be even better, I’m sure. (The author dedicated it to her younger self, with an inscription that says, “This is us.” #love)

“The New Neighbors,” by Sarah McIntyre (Penguin Workshop, 2019, ages 3-7, $17.99). Well hello, rats! say the bunnies upstairs. They wanna tell Lettuce (their big sis) all about it. But… uh… wait. Who moved in? Will they be friendly? Let’s all go find out. Sweet art, nice use of repetition while the story builds, and funny, funny ending. (There will be cake.)

Bon appetit, babies!

WM

I’m late to the game for Elizabeth Strout’s Pulitzer Prize winner, “Olive Kitteridge” (Random House, 2008, 270 pages). Thirteen stories = one amazing novel. Olive is a retired school teacher who lives in Crosby, Maine, with her husband, Henry. Olives weaves and dodges throughout the stories. The stories are heartbreaking, beautiful, stripped down, spare, lush and rich. It’s a lot, this book. I’ll finish it and I’ll start it again. It’s that kind of book. xo

If you’re looking for an extraordinary memoir to read, check out “Son of a Gun” by Justin St. Germain (Random House, 2013, 242 pages). It’s his story about the murder of his mother, Debbie St. Germain, and the fall-out in his life, before and after.

(Winter 2019, all photos by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley)

Just started “Dreaming in Cuban,” by Cristina Garcia (Alfred A. Knopf, 1992, 245 pages). This is one I missed when it was first released. It’s a magical book.

“The Sum of Our Days,” by Isabel Allende, (HarperCollins, 2008, translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden, 301 pages) is the sequel to “Paula,” Allende’s memoir about the loss of her daughter. Just like all of Allende’s work, it’s brilliant.

Bon appetit, babies. Happy winter, happy reading.

WM

Hello, folks, and thanks for your patience. Meanwhile, my dining room table is ready to topple over cuz so many books!

Jill McDonald and Hello, World! have released two cute new titles, “Ocean Life” and “How Do Apples Grow?” (Random House Children’s Books, 2019, 0-3 years old, $7.99 apiece). Both have beautiful illustrations and extra tidbits of knowledge tucked into the edges. For example, from “Ocean Life”: “A sea horse father carries eggs in a pouch until they are ready to hatch” and “Sea turtles have lived since the time of dinosaurs!” Cool. Apples, apples, apples: “There are more than 7,000 types of apples!” Beautiful.

“Vampirina in the Snow,” by Countess Anne Marie Pace, illustrated by Mistress of the Night LeUyen Pham, is the latest in the Vampirina series (Disney-Hyperion, 2018, $17.99). The Vampirina books are funny and sweet, and you can catch it on Disney Junior, too. Vampirina and her ghoulish friends are catching snow flakes on their tongues, building snowmen and making snow angels. Here’s to winter.

(All photos by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley.)

“The Healthy Hens Handbook,” by Terry Beebe (Bell & Bain Ltd., 2013, 224 pages, $29.99). The pictures in this handbook kinda freak me out, but chickens, let’s face it, can be a little gruesome at times. There is also lots of down-to-earth information, and some beautiful photos.

Useful, especially all the medical stuff that I don’t want to think about.

“Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken?” by Kelly Jones (Alfred A. Knopf, 2018, ages 8-12, 310 pages, $16.99). Another fun work of young adult fiction from the author of “Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer.”

“How to Speak Chicken: Why Your Chickens Do What They Do and Say What They Say,” by Melissa Caughey (Storey Publishing, 2017). I’m putting this one on order, it looks great.

“The Complete Chicken: An Entertaining History of Chickens,” by Pam Percy (Voyageur Press, 2002, 144 pages, $19.95). This one is just pure fun, and was a sweet Christmas gift from my friend Lisa. Thank you! Kisses, kisses.

“A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store’s Guide to Chicken Keeping,” by Robert and Hannah Litt (Ten Speed Press, 2011, 196 pages, $19.99). This one, written by a Portland couple (#goRoseCity!), was a Christmas gift from my daughter. Thank you, love you!

And a recipe, for the Tuesday Recipe Club, a la Wacky Mommy:

Best Chicken Scratch Mix

Combine one 21-pound bag of Pullet Together (Chicken Crack and Here, Chicken Chicken are also good) with one big bag of Purina Premium Poultry Feed, Layena Crumbles or Pellets, plus one big bag of Durvet Fancy Flock Mealworm and Cricket Medley.

Yum.

Our chicks also like bananas, oh, they love bananas; bags of spinach; soft apples; yogurt that we spoon into egg cartons and leave in the garden; but best of all? On a hot summer day, we take an overripe watermelon and break it open on the ground for them. Watermelon bomb! Happy girls.

Bon appetit, babies.

WM

(Photo by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley)

Those are the newest bok-boks, who turn one year old next month. We’ve lost one, but the other four are alive and well. Chickens = heartbreak, it turns out. Which I knew, but didn’t really know, until they were part of our family.

I started this post a long time ago, thought I hit publish and didn’t, so here we are. So happy-after-Christmas reviews.

I’m reading Alice Walker’s book about life, love, family and chickens. It’s called “The Chicken Chronicles: Sitting with the Angels Who Have Returned with My Memories: Glorious, Rufus, Gertrude Stein, Splendor, Hortensia, Agnes of God, the Gladyses, & Babe: A Memoir,” and I’m liking it. The title alone makes it worth the price of admission. I’ve always liked Walker’s writing, though, and her attitude. Like many of us, I discovered her in college when we read “The Color Purple.” If you don’t know her writing, or haven’t checked in with her lately, please do.

I have some other chicken books (that I received as Christmas presents) that I will review later. Bok-bok.

“Owls Are Good at Keeping Secrets: An Unusual Alphabet,” written by Sara O’Leary, with pictures by Jacob Grant (Random House Children’s Books, 2018, ages 3-7, 40 pages, $17.99). Pretty art, sweet words.

“Aa: Alligators think you’d like them/if you got to know them” (I believe we all feel this way, at times…) and…

“Ee: Elephants are happiest at bathtime” are my two favorite pages.

Awesome book.

“Owl Babies,” by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson, was one of my children’s favorites, and mine as well, back in the day. And the “Little Bear” books, by Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak. So. Many. Cool and sweet animal books.

“Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?” (by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illustrated by Christian Slade, Random House, 2018, $16.99) These Digger books are funny.

“Where do food trucks celebrate Christmas after serving lots of meals? Are there special Christmas menus at these restaurants on wheels?” (With art of daddy snowman and kids, with their pink frosted cupcakes, by the cupcake dessert truck.)

Trucks, kids and gifts — winning combination.

Also recommending “God Bless America: The Story of an Immigrant Named Irving Berlin,” written by Adah Nuchi, illustrated by Rob Polivka (Disney-Hyperion, 2018, $18.99). Great bio of an incredible songwriter who has come to symbolize America. The book includes a list of websites and a bibliography in the back, but the song list? That’s all for me. It’s ten of his best-known songs, and includes “Blue Skies,” “Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)” and my favorite, “White Christmas,” which my dad taught me to play on the piano when I was a little bitty girl.

Lots of love, more reviews soon, and bon appetit, babies!

WM

“Nothing is really so very frightening when everything is so very dangerous”

― Gertrude Stein

(Photo by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley)

New classic, just like that… “Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe,” by Preston Norton (Hyperion, 2018, middle school & high school readers, 410 pages, $17.99). Cliff Hubbard doesn’t want anyone to get too close. Nicknamed “Neanderthal” because of his size (6’6″ tall, 250 pounds at age 16), grieves for his dead brother, is ridiculed by the other students at his high school, is damaged daily by his abusive father, while cherished by his mother, who is trying to get a better life for them. In spite of it all? He’s an amazingly good person, who wants better for his mom, himself and those around him.

Chapter One

Rule number one: It’s all bullshit.”

This novel has replaced “Catcher in the Rye” for me as my new favorite teenage angst book. It’s brilliant, well-written, and thoughtful.

“The Perfect Secret” is Rob Buyea’s sequel to “The “Perfect Score.” (Delacorte Press, 2018, ages 9-12, 364 pages, $16.99.) The kids from Lake View Middle School — Gavin, Randi, Scott, Trevor and Natalie — are back for another adventure, this time hoping to patch up the relationship between the mother/daughter duo who teach at their school. Buyea knows kids — he has taught third- and fourth-grade, plus high school biology, and was also a wrestling coach. His dialogue and stories will speak to young readers.

“It Wasn’t Me,” by Dana Alison Levy (Delacorte, 2018, ages 10 and older, $16.99), is a new one on my shelf. A prank goes wrong, a student’s photography project is damaged, and five other students claim, “It wasn’t me.” A la “The Breakfast Club,” we have the Nerd, the Princess, the Jock, the Screw Up, the Weirdo and the Nobody.

“Inkling,” by Kenneth Oppel, illustrated by Sydney Smith (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2018, ages 8 and older, 256 pages). Extraordinary children’s book by Oppel and Smith, both Toronto, Canada residents. It’s about an artist father, who has creative block; a son who is faltering because he can’t create the art he needs to for a school project, and a sister, who has Down Syndrome and is needing attention. They all miss Mom.

Reminds me of “Crenshaw,” the Katherine Applegate book, which is an outstanding read, too. Both are good titles for grabbing the reluctant readers.

Bon appetit, babies. Happy holidays, and here’s to a grand 2019!

WM

(Photo by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley)

(That dog loves to be read to. Photo by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley)

“Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Book reviews! Fun stuff.

This is part of the Rick Riordan Presents series. “Aru Shah and the End of Time: A Pandava Novel, Book One” by Roshani Chokshi (Disney-Hyperion, 2018, 355 pages, $16.99). Chokshi, who also wrote “The Star-Touched Queen” and “A Crown of Wishes,” has written a great young adult novel that I’m hoping is turned into a film someday. Oh, wait! Looks like Paramount Pictures landed the rights.

Our heroine, Aru, plays kind of fast and loose with the truth. Her schoolmates find her out when they discover she’s working at the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture (where her mother is curator) and not taking a fancy vacation like she told them she was. They don’t believe that the museum’s Lamp of Bharata is cursed and here, our story begins. Great to read a book that focuses on Hindu mythology, with an Indian girl as the main character.

The next book in the series, “Aru Shah and the Song of Death” will be released in April, 2019.

“The Isle of the Lost,” by Melissa de la Cruz, adapted by Robert Venditti, with art by Kat Fajardo, and lettering by Leigh Luna (it’s a labor of love, this one) is a very cool graphic novel. (Based on the “Descendants” novel, from Disney-Hyperion, but of course, 2018, $21.99). Nice art — all purples, greens and reds — that rises off the pages and invites you in. The plot is a little all over the place, but I think I’m the only one who’s going to have a problem with that, not Disney fans. A lost scepter; a big cast of familiar characters; Diablo (Maleficent’s evil raven); Dr. Facilier, the strange MC — it’s good fun. The story: Disney villains and their family members are given the heave-ho from the Kingdom of Auradon and sent to the Isle of the Lost.

Things get weird.

Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas: A Petrifying Pop-Up for the Holidays” was just released (Disney Editions, 2018, $65). Matthew Reinhart worked hard on this one, and it’s amazing. Save it for the teenagers and grown-up “Nightmare” buffs; keep it on the shelf and only let the babies admire it under supervision. It’s an outstanding work of art.

Bon appetit, babies.

WM

Books! Halloween Books! Even though it’s almost Thanksgiving. Work with me people, I didn’t get a chance to review these until now.

Bon appetit, babies.

WM

(All photos by moi, Nancy Ellen Row Rawley)

“Mickey Mouse: The Scariest Halloween Story Ever!”

“The Nightmare Before Christmas”

These two slim paperbacks include CDs with sound effects and narration, and that is pretty, pretty cool (Disney Press, 2018, $6.99 each).

I’m aware that Donald Duck has nephews (Huey/Dewey/Louie) but Mickey has nephews, too? Well, they’re cute, and so is this book. It’s all purple and green and you know Wacky Mommy likes those colors best. Story is good, too. Thumbs up for this one.

And “Nightmare Before Christmas, because it’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” and I heart Sally. Jack Skellington is OK, he has a lot of personality for someone so boney. But that creepy Mayor can get to steppin’. (Disney sent me this amazing “Nightmare Before Christmas” pop-up book, too (Disney, 2018), but I have to review it later.)

“H is for Halloween: A Book of First Words and ABCs” (Disney Press, 2018, $12.99)
“A” is for Abu and Aladdin juggling apples, “B” is for Belle and the Beast brushing bats from the attic, “C” is for Lilo and Stitch collecting candy in a cauldron, and so on. Super pretty big board book, heavy and with nice thick pages for the littles to work with. They can open the flaps, and trace the sunken letters with their fingers.

“5-Minute Halloween Stories” (Disney, 2018, 188 pages, $12.99)
“Spooktacular” stories, again in an oversized format. There are a dozen total, all with a Halloween theme, from “Wreck-It Ralph” to “Inside Out” to “Alice in Wonderland.” This is the kind of collection they’ll pore over by themselves, to enjoy the art and play at reading, and will like to read again and again with their older siblings and parents. Candy colors and, of course, big, beautiful art. It’s Disney.

From Viola Davis (NPR interview):

“My definition of success is legacy, is significance. And also, might I add, my authenticity is my rebellion. It’s my F.U., per se. It helps when I think of it like that. That’s why I give these speeches; that’s why I say what I say. And it’s also my narcissism, because I feel that that’s probably what sets me apart from most people. But all those things are in my idea of success. If I can go to my grave feeling like — you know, it’s like Lorraine Toussaint said. She said the reason why she adopted her child is because she didn’t want ‘series regular’ to be on her tombstone. And yeah, I want something quite beautiful, like Shirley Chisholm — you know, on her tombstone is ‘Unbought and Unbossed.'”

“Heartwood Hotel: Home Again,” written by Kallie George and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin (Disney-Hyperion, 2018, ages 4-8, 170 pages, $14.99). Ms. Prickles is marrying Mr. Quillson in the fourth and final book in the “Heartwood Hotel” series. (“Heartwood Hotel: A True Home,” “Heartwood Hotel: The Greatest Gift” and “Heartwood Hotel: Better Together” are the earlier titles.) Acorn souffles, beds lined with moss, and “the grandest hotel in Fernwood Forest” provide a sweet way for young readers to escape.

These critters, Mona the Mouse; Mr. Heartwood, the badger owner; Tilly, the squirrel maid; hedgehogs Mr. and Mrs. Higgins, the gardener and head housekeeper, respectively; and the rest, will warm the heart for sure. Break out the Calico Critters and Rabbit Family, I’m just saying. J

“The Adventurers Guild,” by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos (Disney-Hyperion, 2017, grades 5-8, 306 pages, $16.99). This is a cool dystopian-style novel for the younger set, and is more Rick Riordan than Suzanne Collins. Best friends Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel live in the city of Freestone, where the two of them and the other young people of their city, one of the last standing after monster attack, wait to be assigned to a craft union.

The book is fast-paced, lively and with interesting characters.

Bon appetit, babies!

WM