www Wednesdays – July 13, 2011

My reading has been pretty slow this past week so most of the updates below are for children’s books this week.

My bookshelf

- What I’m currently reading
I’m still reading The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I’m tree quarters of the way in and I’m really enjoying it. I so want to know how it ends, even though I know I’ll miss the characters when the book is over.

- What I recently finished reading
Since I’m still reading the same book, I have no updates for this section.

- What I think I’ll read next
Oh, The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith just showed up at my library! This will definitely be my next book. I’ve wanted to see the movie for many years but the book should come first, as always.

My kids’ bookshelf

- What they’re currently reading
The brand new “Should I Share My Ice Cream?” by Mo Willems and they love it! OK, I do too. The story is hilarious, sweet and agonizing. And it illustrates my husband’s worst nightmare about ice cream cones, so it’s a plus. I recommend this book to all kids between 3 and 6.

We’re also reading the new Rob Scotton book, “Splish, Splash, Splat!”. My kids have been taking swim lessons for several weeks so this book is a perfect companion to help them conquer any fear of water they may have. If a cat manages to like water, so should they!

- What they recently finished reading
We recently revisited a storytime favorite, “Interrupting Chicken” by David Ezra Stein. If your little ones interrupt you during storytime, this is the book for you. Lovely painted illustrations and a laugh-out-aloud storyline will help kids understand why interrupting the reader can be frustrating.

- What I think they’ll read next
We’ve borrowed a number of Lisa Wheeler books and are starting to make a dent into the pile. Wheeler likes to write in rhymes and she’s quite talented at it. I’ll comment on her books next week after we have a chance to read a few.

What about you? Any books you or your kids are reading you’d like to share?

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www Wednesdays – July 6, 2011

I thought my next post would be a monthly update to my “101 in 1001″ challenges but I got so busy doing fun things this past three-day weekend, I simply ran out of time. Oh well, at least I know what I’ll be writing about before this week is over.

Lots of great reading this past week. I can’t wait to read your feedback if you’ve read some of the same books.

My bookshelf

- What I’m currently reading
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I’ve wanted to see the movie for a while but figured I should really read the book first, so I’m doing it now! I’ve only read the first few chapters and I’m having a hard time putting the book down. Such an interesting concept and way to tell a love story. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

- What I recently finished reading
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. This was a challenging read for me because of the style but I got used to it about a third into the book and really enjoyed the story (and now I’m ready to see the movie too!). This is the story of Mr Stevens, a “perfect” English butler, oblivious to the life going on around him, uptight and emotionally withdrawn. Putting his career and loyalty towards his employer above everything else, Stevens goes through life without living it. Spanning from the early 1930s to the mid 1950s, it’s a great snapshot of England during these trying times. This book is a good reminder that no matter how much pride and focus you can have on your career, there’s so much more to life and we should make the best of it.

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom. Now, how ironic is this? I’ve managed to read two completely different books in a row about the same theme: what really matters in life. Just like Stevens, Mitch Albom went through the first 15 years of his career focusing on money and fame, unaware of the void within. That’s until he happens to meet Morrie Schwartz again, his old college professor. Morrie’s life lessons are simple and humble, yet they’ll ring a bell for most of us. Many people chase materialistic possessions to feel less unhappy and empty instead of addressing the real reason for their unfulfilled lives. A great, easy to read book to keep us grounded.

- What I think I’ll read next
At this point, I’m not sure. I have a library book already waiting for me on the bookshelf and I’m expecting a few more soon, but my best friend also gave me a mystery book for my birthday and it looks quite interesting.

My kids’ bookshelf

- What they’re currently reading
We’ve re-entered an Amelia Bedelia stage, alternating between Amelia Bedelia and the Cat, Come Back Amelia Bedelia, and Amelia Bedelia Bakes Off. I have a low tolerance level for the whole Amelia Bedelia concept but my kids love the books, especially my oldest, who’s just starting to understand play-on-words and number of American idioms. I personally would love to go back to the Mo Willems books simply because they’re a lot more entertaining!

- What they recently finished reading
Speaking of Mo Willems, we’ve read Hooray For Amanda & Her Alligator! a few times already. This is a compilation of 6 and 1/2 stories and is pure Willems’ fun. My kids’ favorite part? When the alligator tries to chomp on the top of Amanda’s head because he’s bored and she’s too busy reading library books to play with him…

- What I think they’ll read next
Surprise, surprise… Actually, I have no idea at this point but I’m hoping for more great books.

What about you? Any books you or your kids are reading you’d like to share?

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www Wednesdays – June 29, 2011

Today is my birthday (if you’re curious to know how old I am, I suggest you read last year’s post on Turning 40 and do the quick math) and I’m planning to bake my own birthday cake as part of my 101 in 1001 challenge, so I’ll make this post quick. Sorry but a chocolate cake should always take priority!

The Remains of the Day by Kasuo Ishiguro

My bookshelf

- What I’m currently reading
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (a Japanese British writer). I’ve never seen the movie inspired by this book and I’m struggling with main character’s spoken style and tone (the book uses the first-person narrative). But I know it’s meant to be that way. A “perfect” English butler, oblivious to the life going on around him, emotionless, uptight, borderline asocial. I keep wondering, how does someone grow up to become this type of person? Will he ever turn around and see the light, smell the roses? And that’s why I keep reading the book, because I’m a hopeful person.

- What I recently finished reading
Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson. This is the diary of a mother for her new baby, with a tragic twist, intertwined with another story about a woman and her lover. I hate to admit the story is predictible, but you can’t help but feel the same joy and pain as the characters as they go through life. As a mother, I found some parts quite heartbreaking, making me think of what I really want my children to remember from me, and making sure I tell my kids every night that I love them.

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (a Japanese American writer). I’m so glad I stumbled upon this book at the library – this is a great story! In the early 1950s, a Japanese family is forced to move from Iowa to the Deep South of Georgia, with only 32 Japanese out of 4000 residents – the ultimate minority. Younger sister Katie narrates this story about her mother, father and older sister Lynn. Unfortunately Lynn gets sick and the whole family is hurt emotionally, physically and financially. Even though this book is considered “youth literature”, I recommend it to anyone looking to read a lovely, touching story about growing up.

- What I think I’ll read next
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom. I feel everybody else in the world has read this book except me, so it’s now waiting for me on my bookshelf.

My kids’ bookshelf

Can I play, too? by Mo Willems - Elephant and Piggie series

- What they’re currently reading
Lots and lots of Mo Willems!!! We’re big fans of Mo Willems and got the opportunity to see him in person almost a year ago. We haven’t read Mo for a while so I got a whole bunch of his books at the library, since they are so entertaining, often hilarious and great for early readers. Our favorites of the Elephant & Piggie book series are:
I Will Surprise My Friend (this has to be one of the funniest children’s books ever!)
Can I Play, Too? (this one is a close second – BOINK!)
There Is a Bird on Your Head
I Am Invited to a Party!

- What they recently finished reading
Mr Putter & Tabby Spill the Beans, Mr Putter & Tabby Spin the Yarn, and Mr Putter & Tabby See the Stars, by Cynthia Rylant. Wonderful, funny, touching books both preschoolers and their parents will enjoy reading. And if you’ve ever wondered how many bean recipes you can come up with, Mr Putter & Tabby Spill the Beans has the answer for you.

- What I think they’ll read next
I’ve got lots of books requested at the library but they don’t seem to be moving very fast, so I’m not sure which books I’ll replenish our stock with yet.

What about you? Any books you or your kids are reading you’d like to share? Feel free to share below. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a birthday cake to bake.

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My boy is graduating from preschool tonight

Yes, you read this right. My oldest is graduating from preschool tonight during an official ceremony. The whole class will be giving a well-rehearsed performance, including songs, sight word recognition and some other secret activities my son won’t tell me about. The kids will be wearing cute graduation hats they get to keep, and they’ll receive a graduation certificate. Of course, no preschool graduation ceremony is complete without cake and apple juice. That’s all kids need to stock up on, tons of sugar an hour before bedtime…

When I first heard about this preschool graduation ceremony, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I honestly had never heard of such a thing. And the timing seems a little off since preschool will  still be in session for two months, until kindergarten starts. But then again, why not celebrate a milestone in our children’s lifelong learning voyage? For me, entering the public school system marks the end of a fun, grade-free, stress-free era. Pre-K kids need all the encouragement they can get, and I think parents do too.

Here’s a funny fact about this graduation ceremony. My son happened to mention he would wear his Buzz Lightyear pyjamas for the event. “Wait, at a graduation ceremony, are you sure???” “Yes, the teacher said we should dress up.” Ah, the English language can be so subtle… So I checked with his teacher to find the origin of the confusion. She did tell the kids to “dress up”, not realizing a boy may understand it as “wear a costume” rather than ”dress nicely”. Since my son was expecting to attend a costume party, I suggested she clarify to the class what types of outfits were appropriate for the event.

This reminds me of a very funny Mo Willem’s Gerald and Piggie book called “I Am Invited to a Party”. Piggie doesn’t know what to wear for her first party and Gerald helps her go through a series of possibilities. What if it’s a costume party? Wait. What if it’s a pool party? How will she know the proper attire to wear? If you have kids between 3 and 6, you should read this book to them, they’ll love it.

My husband happens to be on a business trip this week, so he’ll miss the ceremony. This means I’ll have to manage my squirmy three-year old to keep him sitted while I try to take photos and videos of the event. How many times do you think I’ll be saying “please sit down” tonight? I think I’m the one who’ll need the cake most when this is all over. Wish me luck.

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WWW Wednesdays – June 8, 2011

Just a week ago I embraced the WWW Wednesdays weekly theme to give you an idea of what books my kids and I get to read. I’ve gone through quite a few since last week, so here’s an update.

My bookshelf

- What I’m currently reading
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while so I’m glad to finally get to it.

- What I recently finished reading
Babe the Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith
A lovely, inspiring story for both children and grown-ups. No matter the prejudices we can  suffer from, hard work and persistence can help us become whoever we want to be, even a sheep-pig. As for politeness, it happens to be a very useful skill to gain cooperation from others. I can’t wait till my kids are old enough to read this book.

Encore by Marc Freedman
Although this book focuses on people in their 50s and 60s looking for a second or third career, this is a good read for anyone longing to find a more fulfilling, meaningful job.

The Alchemist by Pablo Coelho
Sorry if you’ve read this book and loved it but I couldn’t be more disappointed. This book has gotten so much hype and really doesn’t deliver. If you’re searching for your true passion and purpose in life, many other books will guide you through your search and inspire you. This one may just bore you to death. I can’t believe some people have compared it to Saint Exupery’s The Little Prince. Now, that’s a great story everyone should read!

- What I think I’ll read next
Probably Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, to follow up on The Omnivore’s Dilemma.

My kids’ bookshelf

- What they’re currently reading
Two hilarious books they can’t get enough of:
There are cats in this book by Vivian Schwarz, featuring Tiny, Moonpie and Andre, and There are no cats in this book (even funnier than the first one). I love the interactivity between the book characters and the reader. My kids flip through the pages on their own and can retell the dialogues in each word balloon.

- What they recently finished reading
I broke my trunk by Mo Willems
Some Mo Willems books are better than others and this is the most recent of the Gerald & Piggy series. Very, very funny. It’s a long, crazy story… you’ll have to find out why for yourself.

- What I think they’ll read next
I’m getting some new Mercy Watson and Mr Putter & Tabby books soon.

Any books you or your kids are reading you’d like to share?

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