13 Words

13 Words by Lemony Snicket and Maira Kalman

13 words that aren't usually found in a kids' book (i.e., despondent, panache)are used and explained.

Mom's Review: I love this book. It's so odd, I can't help but be immediately attracted to it! I love the despondent bird. Oh and I am particularly fond of the usage of the word "snazzy." I use that word all the time! I enjoy the art work too. It reminds me of what could be a collaboration between Picasso and Matisse.

Daughter's Review: I liked the big words.

It's Hard to Be Five

It's Hard to Be Five by Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell

The trials and tribulations of being five.

Mom's Review: A great book that focuses on the plight of five-year-olds. It really makes you think about how much being a kid can suck. Parents always romanticize how much easier it is to be little. But really, it wasn't; you still had problems, they were just different problems. Good book. I really think it's easy for kids to relate.

Daughter's Review: I liked it because the kid was five.

The Cat in the Hat & Happy New Year

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

A cat messes up a kid's house and torments the fish and then fixes it up in time for mom to come home.

Mom's Review: I have never liked Dr. Seuss books. Ever. Even when I was little, I wanted to set them on fire. (OK, not to that extreme, but I'm making a point.) Courtesy of PBS's new "Cat in the Hat" show, which, I'll admit is a lot better then the books because they're educational (for instance, I learned how bees make honey and am now kind of grossed out by it.) Anyhow, in summary:
I say, "I do not like Cat in the Hat.
I do not like it and that is that."

Daughter's Review: I liked it because I like cats.
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Happy New Year! By Emery Bernhard Illustrated by Durga Bernhard

New Year traditions/customs from around the world.

Mom's Review: This is boring for a kid's book. Too wordy and not very kid-friendly. I found some it interesting, but I'm pretty sure Abby didn't. I skipped several pages. I also skipped the parts about evil spirits and the grim reaper. The only thing less appropriate for a bedtime story is a tale about a child-eating monster who lives under the bed and grab at you while you attempt to shield yourself with your thin layer of blanket.

Daughter's Review: I didn't like it because it was boring.

Christmas Recap

So, it's been over a month. Books have been read, I've just been lazy. I kind of suck that way. Here are the books that we read over and over (and over and over) this holiday season.

The Polar Express written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

I bought this book for Abby when she was a year old. We've only read it now mainly because I saw some of the movie in my pre-mom days (oh so long ago, it seems!) and was completely unimpressed. Yeah, I'm going on record with that. I don't care what you say, the movie bored me. I found the characters creepy and reminiscent of those duracell battery people. Anyhow, I should have known better. The book is always better than the movie, even in the case of children's books.

Mom's Review: The illustrations are beautiful. I've always been drawn to extreme light and dark contrasts. This is why I love Edward Hopper's work. The story is cute and heartwarming and inspired us to take our own little trip on the the not-to-be-copyright-infringed "North Pole Express" in New Hope, PA. It was fun, just wish we had cool scenery to look at instead of, as my husband put it, "dead trees in rich people's back yards."

Daughter's Review: I liked it because I like trains.

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Santa Mouse by Michael Brown Illustrated by Elfrieda De Witt


A lonely mouse become Santa's special helper.

Mom's Review: I had this book when I was little. I still have the copy, but since it's battered and tattered, and stained, I bought Abby her own copy; I think around the same time that I bought The Polar Express. I love this book. This is a completely biased opinion. That's just the way it is. I love the rhymes and I love Santa Mouse. I always felt sad that he was so lonely and had to make up his own friends. Happily, Santa never forgot about him and took him under his wing. Santa is cool that way.

Daughter's Review: I like it because I like Santa and I like presents. And I like mouses.

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A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz
Do I really need to recap this book? If so, go to hulu and watch it. And then come back here and thank me for introducing you to the depressed, cynical anti-hero child that is Charlie Brown.

Mom's Review: The book is a good recap of the TV show. But, I'm just gonna admit it, I like the show better mainly because you get the tone of the characters voices which add so much to the lines. My favorite line, "I know no one likes me, why do we need a holiday season to emphasize it?" Oh Charlie Brown, you are my kindred spirit.

Daughter's Review: I liked it because I like dogs and Christmas. And that's it.

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Step Inside The Nutcracker: A Magical 3-Dimensional Fairytale World Story Retold by Janine Amos Illustrated by Marsela Hajdinjak Krec

So, we went to see The Nutcracker ballet with some friends. We had a great time. It really was magical. I think it was so great because I had minimal expectations. I figured Abby would be bored and antsy-pants, so when she was well-behaved and intrigued, it made me smile and I had a wonderful time! She picked this book out with a Barnes & Noble gift card she got for her birthday (thanks, Mike and Rochelle & Julian!)
It's a beautifully illustrated, three-dimensional book. You can just look at this book over and over. No words will do the artistic design of this book justice.

Daughter's Review: I liked it because I like the show and the Sugarplum Fairy and the Queen. And the nutcracker. Mostly all of it.

85. The True-or-False Book of Cats

The True-or-False Book of Cats by Patricia Lauber illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer

Fun cat facts.

Mom's Review: I really like this book! It's from National Geographic, so it's a bit wordy is spots, but not too over the top. Fun and interesting cat facts presented in a way that kids can understand; although admittedly, there were words that I had to explain, but that OK because it just expands the kiddo's vocabulary! The book is a bit long, so we read it over two nights.

Daughter's Review: I like it because it has cats in it and that's it.

84. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst illustrated by Ray Cruz

Alexander isn't having the best of days.

Mom's Review: It was fun to read aloud because the run on sentences are exactly how a little kid speaks. It was very easy to be animated and whiny while reading. On the down side, damn! This books is negative!

Daughter's Review: I liked the story, but I didn't like that the pictures weren't colored.

83. Once I Ate a Pie

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest illustrated by Katy Schneider

Free form poems from dogs' perspectives.

Mom's Review: The illustrations are worth checking this book out of the library. If you're a big "dog person" you may want to purchase it, but it's not something that we'd read again. The free verse is fun and I really like that it's from a dog's perspective. The illustrations are stunning.

Daughter's Review: I like the doggies.