Today I’ll review two children’s books + one grown-up book, what do you think about that?

“Chester” by Melanie Watt, no, it’s by Chester, it turns out, Melanie’s cat. (Kids Can Press, 2007, $16.95.) And he also wrote the sequel, “Chester’s Back!”, which is NOT a Melanie Watt book, thank you! (Kids Can Press, 2008, $18.95.) This one was also “Written and illustrated by Melanie Watt’s hero.”

Chester says, blah, blah, blah, get to the reviews already, lady.

“I SAID…
A long time ago, in a faraway land, lived a cat named Chester.
NOT ready yet!
A long time ago…
CHESTER, not THAT long ago!
BORING!
CAVE CAT take over!
Ooga Chugga Ooga Chugga!”

(from “Chester’s Back!”)

These books are delightful — the drawings are lively, full of color and movement, made from pencil and watercolor, and assembled digitally. Chester is amiable, of course, even as he hijacks Melanie’s projects and runs away with them.

Does he like mice? No, he does not.

“Hasta la vista, Mousie!” — Chester

Now on to a selection for the adults in the house. Meg Federico, a writer from Nova Scotia, writes her mother Addie’s story in “Welcome to the Departure Lounge.” The book is by turns hysterical and depressing, over-the-top funny and too poignant for words. I read it quickly, then loaned it to my mom. I can’t wait to talk about it with her. It would be a great book club pick, this one.

What to do with Addie and Walter, the author’s well-to-do, aging mother, and Walter, Addie’s “new” husband? He’s soused, she’s soused, and good luck getting the credit cards away from them — they’ll just apply for new ones. And good luck finding good help to provide in-home care. The cow jumped over the moon, the dish ran away with the spoon and someone ran off with all the jewelry. (Except Walter’s — it turns up, eventually.) Ms. Federico gives a disclaimer early on that she is well aware that not everyone can afford in-home care. I was wishing she would have bankrupted her mom and put her into a nice assisted living place.

Oh, wait. She did try that — Addie checked herself out.

“Mentally competent” is not really how I would describe Ms. Addie, but the doctors disagreed.

Ms. Federico is one of the best writers I’ve come across in ages, and her writing sings and stings. Brilliant work.

Reviewed today:

Hello, my chickens,

Would you like to know what I’m reading? First up, we have two funny moms — Sara Ellington and Stephanie Triplett — who put their smart little heads together and just published their second book, “The Must-Have Mom Manual: Two Mothers, Two Perspectives, One Book That Tells You Everything You Need to Know” (Ballantine, 2009, $17, 525 pages.) (more…)

Ah, I like a book review, especially when I learn something new along the way, too.

Did you know that Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) wrote 44 books total? They have been translated into 30 languages. He won the Pulitzer Prize and eight honorary degrees along the way, and works based on his stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys and a Peabody. Yay, Dr. Seuss. I could have guessed at most of that, but somehow I never realized that Theo LeSieg (Geisel in reverse, get it?) and Rosetta Stone were his pseudonyms.

Hmm. Very interesting.

This year is the 50th anniversary for “Happy Birthday to You!” ($14.95, Random House) and a fun “party edition” has just been released. Along with “On Beyond Zebra,” “Happy Birthday to You” as always struck me as one of the stranger Seuss’s, what with the “hippo-heimers,” the “mustard-off” pools and clubs, the “Time-Telling Fish.” You decide for yourself.

“And here comes your cake! Cooked by Snookers and Snookers,
The Official Katroo Happy Birthday Cake Cookers.”

The baby book ($9.99, Random House) is just as crazy and fun, with scratch and sniff, flaps, and moving pictures, so you can go all interactive with baby.

“Princess Baby Night-Night,” by Karen Katz ($14.99, Random House, Schwartz & Wade Books), is the adorable sequel to “Princess Baby.” It’s pink and sparkly, with lots of stuffed animals flying around and an irrepressible little princess who does not want to go to sleep. It’s charming.

Reviewed today:

Planning to Change the World: A Plan Book for Social Justice Teachers, was edited by Tara Mack and Bree Picower, and is a NYCoRe and Education for Liberation Network Publication.

Look for lists of resources; tips and suggestions; ideas for elementary, middle and high school students; notable dates; quotes and much more. Great book, great resource.

I am late on this review and my apologies, but it has been a busy fall and winter for this first year (non) teacher. (I am classified at this point, not certified to teach.) I received this 2008/2009 edition of this date book last fall, but I see on their website that they are planning on releasing a 2009-2010 edition, so send ’em some business, those of you in the field. (Also would make a great gift for Teacher Appreciation Week, hint hint.)

Here are a few of the websites they shared in the book, if you’re looking for more info:
* The New York Collective of Radical Educators
* The Education for Liberation Network
* Education for Liberation Network’s Online Database
* Teachers 4 Social Justice (click on “study groups”)
* IndyKids (“A Free Paper for Free Kids”)

Internets, if I’d been born rich instead of good looking, I’d be running off to Plum Village in southwestern France to study with Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk and visionary, and I would also hire Stephen Viscusi, “America’s Workplace Guru,” to be my personal coach.

Then Beth Pattillo and I would start a Home for Wayward Girls and Knitters, and I’d be the head librarian and yarn gatherer.

Sigh.

Yes, that is what I would do.

But since I cannot, I will content myself with their books. “Sweetgum Knit Lit Society” is a gem of a book (pssst — “The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love” is skedded for release in June). Meet Eugenie, Ruth, Esther, Merry, Camille and their reluctant teenage knitter, Hannah. (WaterBrook Press, 2008, 342 pages, $14.) Look for Ms. Pattillo over here.

Mr. Viscusi’s book, subtitled “4 Simple Strategies to Ride Out the Rough Times and Come Out On Top At Work,” is a compact volume that goes expand-o once it hits your brain. I like this guy. I like his anecdotes, his chop-chop way of writing, his take on things. Get a copy of this book, even if you don’t think you need it. (Collins Business, 2008, 171 pages, $19.95.) Look for more tips from Mr. Viscusi at bulletproofyourjob.com.

Now. Mr. Hanh is someone who my ministers at church quote often, and I am always moved by his words, his philosophies. I finally picked up a copy of “Creating True Peace: Ending Violence in Yourself, Your Family, Your Community, and the World.” (Free Press, 2003, 208 pages, $14.) It is… I do not know how to describe this book. It has brought me some sorely-needed peace. It has brought on tears, and smiles, and a roadmap. I am always looking for roadmaps. We are all so in need of them. I’m tired of refusing to stop to ask for directions — sometimes I need them so badly.

I admit, when I read the title of the book, I thought (flip, as always), “Sure, let’s get going on that.” Funny thing is — he does. He has been working on this for decades now.

Dear Reader (he begins), as you read this book, please do so with the understanding that peace is already here and now. It is already a part of you. Please read these pages slowly and calmly, so that the very act of reading is peace. Remember, the practice of peace always begins right here, right now.

It does.

You will find more from Mr. Hanh at Plum Village.org.

Reviewed today:

“To be nobody but myself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.” -ee cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Just read the best book with the kids — “Snowflake Bentley,” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrations (woodcuts painted with watercolors) by Mary Azarian (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998).
Of course I can’t put an Amazon pic for you, because my husband just reformatted my HTML or something and I just deleted an old post, trying to edit this post. Yeah, I’m not exactly sure what happened, either. But here are some links in case you want to learn more about this amazing guy who was born 100 years before I was. You will find the books here and here. His parents bought him a microscope camera and off he went. Cool man, inspiring photos, and the kids’ book about him was just incredible.

Just the thought of concentrating on one thing — like snowflakes — for my entire life — one thing and nothing else, no distractions, no chaos, just total focus — can you imagine that? I cannot.

It’s a snow day over here today. Lots of snow. Lots of chaos. Very. Little. Focus.

Got it!

* snowy icky warming freezing raining freezing slipping sliding icy ick.

* we have enough vodka do not fear.

* possibly not enough to last through the weekend, seeing as how this is only… (have no idea what day.) (not too close to the weekend, though.)

* kids happy. Simpsons Christmas, backgammon, Mysterious Benedict Society’s Perilous Journey.

* next batch of chocolate crinkles just coming out of the oven, gotta go.

wet freezy kisses,
wm

Only we don’t eat turkey over here. Still, we’re grateful. I’m grateful for bacon, cuz that clam chowder I had for dinner last night was so good. My son is grateful for pigs. Live pigs. He has requested that I give up bacon. And his sister has requested that we buy them a Wii or Nintendo DS.

Wouldn’t hold my breath on any of that.

And dear readers, I am grateful for you, for America’s new president, for my new job, that I love so much. It is a cool thing to finally, after years of searching, find the right career. And it was there in the library, in the stacks, right under my nose, this whole time. (I needed to look between Cormier, Robert, and Creech, Sharon. Between DiTerlizzi, Tony, and Draper, Sharon. It just took me awhile to get there.)

I’m grateful for Hockey God, who is the yang to my yin, every day without fail. I’m grateful to my kids, who are funny and kooky and remind me of what’s important. (“We are. Over here. Don’t pay attention to anything else. Give us chocolate.”)

I’m thankful for the Nekkid Neighbors, cuz if it’s wasn’t for their love of gadgets, pots and pans, I wouldn’t be cooking Suzanne’s Crockpot Stuffing right now. (If you haven’t already, go sign up for a Book Club or two.)

I’m thankful for Suzanne, and all my Internet buddies. And I’m especially thankful for all my “real-time” buddies. This year will be better. It has to be. I just know it, that’s why.

Have a great weekend, y’all. We’re going to eat root vegetable soup with greens, stuffing with vegetarian herb gravy, TWO KINDS of cranberry sauce (in honor of my Mom’s family, who can never agree on a damn thing), pumpkin pies and real whipped cream, and brownies.

I wish you and yours all the best.

xxox

wm

Helloooooooooooooo, Book Lovers!

You know I’m happiest when I’m reading books or writing about books or checking books out to kids or buying books for my own kids. Or checking books out for my own kids. Or, alternately, checking books out for myself. Or buying myself cookbooks and then not cooking anything from them. (more…)

I’ll write the reviews tomorrow (or possibly Tuesday) and give you some recipes, but wanted you to see what I’ve been reading this weekend. (Along with Harry Potter 3, yay Harry Potter. Now I can see why everyone has been waiting in lines all these years for him.)

Happy Sunday, babies!

Recommended:

edited to add this:

Ayun’s book is funny. She’s a funny girl. She’s especially funny when she’s describing how her father stole her Betty Crocker’s New Boys and Girls Cook Book from her after her parents divorced. To my own father I would like to say, Peace, Dad. You killed yourself, you killed my dog, you left us alone. You left me longing for something I would never have. Ever. You wrecked my life in a lot of ways, but at least you never stole my favorite cook book so you could have the hamburger recipe like Ayun’s dad. For that small favor, I thank you.

(Also, you will find the delicious recipe for “Ham” Loaf Hawaiian, the first meal I ever cooked for my mom, dad and sis, on page 68, under the “Meats canned meat” section of the Betty Crocker book. I know because I just picked up my copy off the shelf and thumbed through it. I was also fond of making the Mad Hatter Meatballs on the opposite page. And the bunny salad. There is a lot of Internet love out there for this book, by the way. Ayun and I are not alone. Here’s someone who wrote a book about “Ham” Loaf Hawaiian.)

Here’s a good one from her book. I’ve already made these three times. I didn’t have chocolate chips, so I subbed sweetened cocoa. Good… but they’re not chocolate chips. Give it a try, and don’t blame me if you eat the entire pan.

gub-gub brownies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt 2 sticks of butter. Sweet Jesus.

Then add 2 cups of brown sugar, 2 eggs and 2 teaspoons of vanilla.

Better taste some to make sure nobody poisoned it.

Thank God you’re still alive to add 1 1/2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Discuss boys for 5 to 10 minutes to give the dough a chance to cool off a little.

Add 2 cups of chocolate chips. (But first, as a favor to me, do a little Internet research to see which brand is owned by a conglomerate that gladhands its infant formula to impoverished families in developing countries in order to create “customers” who can ill afford a product they didn’t need in the first place and now mix with dirty water. Then buy another brand.)

Don’t forget to discuss those boys, though. Remember, the Internet didn’t exist back when I was in high school. I wouldn’t have known an instant message if it bit me in the ass.

Pour in a greased 9″ x 13″ pan and bake for 30-40 minutes.

These suckers have a long shelf life, so mail them to all your friends who have already left for college.

(from “Dirty Sugar Cookies”)