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August 2007

Hi folks!

Is it time for school to start already? Now I know I am old, as the summers are passing a lot quicker than they used to. 

The good thing is that after endless weeks on the road, I am finally home for an extended period of time. Not only do I get the chance to reacquaint myself with my family; I get to catch up on my emails (I am behind on just under 19,000 e-mail inquiries). Translation: if you are reading this and sent me an email in the past couple of months, please be patient. I will respond within the next couple of weeks. 

I noticed on my various flights that a lot of people on airplanes were reading books about this boy named Harry Potter. Have you heard of him? J.K. Rowling amazes me. She single-handedly taught a generation to read.  

I have focused my reading on a lot of inspirational and young adult books over this past month. A teacher in Tennessee gave me her copy of legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summit’s wonderful autobiography Reach for the Summit. It is just a tad over my 250-page count requirement (288 pages), but it reads quickly (in fact, I actually wish she had written more, as she is a fascinating motivator). For something quirkier that is sure to bring a smile to your face, grab a copy of the modern-day fairy tale Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him, a book I had to check out just based on the title (this is a perfect book to read over coffee). Finally, I was a big fan of L.A. Law, so I had to grab a copy of Michael Tucker’s Living in a Foreign Language, a relaxing story about actor Tucker’s and actress wife Jill Eikenberry’s Italian adventure. I think what made me like this book so much was a dinner party they decide to give for friends in Los Angeles to share some of their Italian culinary discoveries, only to be rebuffed for a host of dietary restrictions. As a fellow Angeleno, I could really relate to that anecdote. A truly enjoyable book meant for reading on a cot with a cold beverage featuring exotic fruits and an umbrella.

Anyhow, enjoy this month’s book selections below. I hope you are all reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me all about them. If you're an author or a publisher and would like to send me review copies of your book(s), please send them to the address listed for authors and publishers.

I hope you are reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me about them by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Have a wonderful August, and enjoy your books!

Danny ;-)
Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America

Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America

By Bill Geist 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have said it before, and bear with me as I say it again: CBS Sunday Morning is one of the finest shows on television. One of the reasons I TiVo it is because of Bill Geist, a remarkable, Will Rogers-like correspondent whom I idolize (could there be a better job than traveling America and getting to meet all the diverse, silly people that make our country so great?) You do not buy this book; you make it an annual gift for anybody you encounter who takes life too seriously. My world is a better, happier place because of people like Bill Geist.
Buy on Amazon
Rules for Old Men Waiting

Rules for Old Men Waiting

By Peter Pouncey 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

Written by a former president of Amherst, this book has received mixed reviews. That surprises me because I found the novel deeply touching and wonderfully narrated. The prose is almost lyrical; to me, it reads a lot like Norman MacLean’s beautiful A River Runs Through It. Check it out, and tell me what you think. 
Buy on Amazon
Positive Attitude: A Dilbert Collection

Positive Attitude: A Dilbert Collection

By Scott Adams 128 pages Adult

Danny Says

If you want to begin your day with a smile, look no further than the daily Dilbert cartoon appearing in your local newspaper. There is nothing particularly unique about Adams’s latest Dilbert book; I just believe everyone should be reminded of how great Dilbert is. It never ceases to amaze me how some corporate executives still do not see how Adams is mocking them.
Buy on Amazon
Lawn Boy

Lawn Boy

By Gary Paulsen 96 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

What can I say? Some authors always seem to impress me, and I cannot resist recommending their books. Gary Paulsen is the perfect author to attract reluctant teenage boys to reading. His latest tale features a sly young entrepreneur who ascends from mowing lawns to hiring his own force of migrant workers to help him as he accumulates a net worth of over half a million bucks. Show me a boy who does not like to read, and I will direct you to this book. 
Buy on Amazon
Rats Saw God

Rats Saw God

By Rob Thomas 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I must admit that I chose to read this book because I liked the cover art, and I was startled to discover an author I truly admire. I can usually spot when an author used to be a teacher because s/he writes characters so well, and that is what you will be treated to when you read this wonderful book about a stud-turned stoner who needs to reflect on his own experiences to determine “what went wrong.” I intend to use this book with middle-school boys seeking answers.
Buy on Amazon
Forged by Fire

Forged by Fire

By Sharon M. Draper 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I met Sharon at a teaching conference in Oregon, and I have been meaning to put a couple of her books on my lists ever since. What I like most about Draper’s books is her ability to deal with characters and situations that many of us who have taught in the inner city can relate to. We need a lot more authors like her writing about urban issues; then again, she is a tough act to follow.
Buy on Amazon
Stardust

Stardust

By Neil Gaiman 288 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

The movie version hits theatres this month, and I will let you decide which is better. One of the ways I get teenagers reading is to offer them books with movie versions, as 95% of the time the movie cannot hold a candle to the book (some exceptions of great books turned into great movies: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather and The Silence of the Lambs). If you enjoyed The Princess Bride by William Goldman (and who on Earth could not love that story), I have a feeling you will enjoy this book, a perfect 250 pages (the paperback version; the hardcover version weighs in at 10 pages less).
Buy on Amazon
Alistair's Time Machine

Alistair's Time Machine

By Marilyn Sadler Children

Danny Says

Alistair constructs a time machine for the science fair, and he travels throughout history. The machine does not work at the science fair, and a dejected Alistair wonders how he can prove to adults that it works. Meanwhile, a bunch of woolly mammoths linger outside his school. This is a very amusing and enjoyable story that any kid will love.
Buy on Amazon
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

By Eileen Spinelli 32 pages Children

Danny Says

The lovely story of a loner curmudgeon who ignores his neighbors until the day a mailman delivers him an anonymous valentine. The unexpected gift changes the way Mr. Hatch lives his life, and he becomes an outwardly generous and caring person…until the day the mailman returns to announce he mistakenly delivered the valentine to the wrong address. Read the book to find out what happens next (hint: do you think I would steer you toward a depressing book?).
Buy on Amazon
Red-eyed Tree Frog

Red-eyed Tree Frog

By Joy Cowley 32 pages Children

Danny Says

I have seen greater demand among kindergarten and first-grade teachers and parents regarding great nonfiction titles for students. Joy Cowley is a delightful author, and this book is really precious because of Nic Bishop’s wonderful photography. I used this book this past year with students alter Simon Cowell compared an “American Idol” poor contestant to a tree frog. Check out Cowley’s book on chameleons while you are at it.
Buy on Amazon

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