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December 2011

Hi folks!

Well, it has been a crazy month, following a burglary at my house. Everyone is alright, and I am grateful my family is coping. That was a downer, so I looked for a lot of “peppy” things to read, keeping in mind a quote I read from Earl Nightingale (quoted by Alonso Castaneira in my November issue of Speaker magazine): news is the exception, not the rule. Translation: we can focus on one negative experience or on countless positive experiences that we take for granted. I choose to focus on the positive, so to that end I enjoyed a number of great reads, including Merrill Markoe’s absolutely hysterical collection of essays Cool, Calm and Contentious, Megan Broderick’s endearing Laugh and Learn: Confessions of an Elementary School Teacher and the very enjoyable Regis Philbin memoir How I Got This Way. Folks – if you’re down, there are lots of great books out there to lift your spirits. Visit your local bookstore or, better yet, a place called “the library.”

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 December, and enjoy your books!

Danny ;-)
In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash

In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash

By Jean Shepherd 264 pages

Danny Says

I am one of those people who watches the 24-hour marathon on TBS of the modern holiday classic A Christmas Story, which is largely based on this book. Jean Shepherd was a masterful storyteller who makes me laugh on nearly every page of this and any other of his wonderful nostalgic looks at his always enjoyable and sometimes not-so-innocent childhood in the Midwest.
Buy on Amazon
The Three-Martini Playdate: A Practical Guide to Happy Parenting

The Three-Martini Playdate: A Practical Guide to Happy Parenting

By Christie Mellor 144 pages Adult

Danny Says

Christie Mellor has provided the perfect antidote to any parent who has had one of “those” days. I hate to sound cliché, but this is “laugh out loud” funny (or, for those of you under the age of 25, “lol”).
Buy on Amazon
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

By Mindy Kaling 222 pages Adult

Danny Says

Full disclosure: I think The Office is one of the greatest human contributions of the 21st century, and I needed funny books to boost my spirits this past month. Kaling, a star and writer for The Office, provides a variety of wonderful observations that make a great coffee table book or bathroom reader.
Buy on Amazon
Rules of the Road

Rules of the Road

By Joan Bauer 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I read a lot, but I do not read enough. That is how I frequently encounter a brilliant author for the first time. Sorry to be so behind, as Joan Bauer is well-known in circles outside of my own (which includes only me). She is hilarious, but that discounts her truly gifted writing ability. Excited to read all of her other books!
Buy on Amazon
One Fat Summer (Ursula Nordstrom Book)

One Fat Summer (Ursula Nordstrom Book)

By Robert Lipsyte 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Having struggled with my weight my entire life (especially during adolescence), I identified with almost everything in this funny and uplifting coming-of-age story. Who says that all young adult literature has to deal with suicide and vampires?
Buy on Amazon
Is Kissing a Girl Who Smokes Like Licking an Ashtray?

Is Kissing a Girl Who Smokes Like Licking an Ashtray?

By Randy Powell 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I chose the book for its funny title and was treated to a funny yet moving story of an odd teen couple who, oddly, fit together perfectly.
Buy on Amazon
An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines

By John Green 272 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Just when I thought most young adult literature was written for nitwits and goths, I discovered this gem by John Green. This book will either delight or annoy your students, but it will definitely spark discussions with its DaVinci Code-style of anagrams and other quirks (I LOVED that it included footnotes and appendices, but – then again – I am a nerd).
Buy on Amazon
Monsters Eat Whiny Children

Monsters Eat Whiny Children

By Bruce Eric Kaplan 40 pages Children

Danny Says

While I think Adam Mansbach’s Go the F**k to Sleep is pure genius, it is meant for an adult audience. Kaplan has written a book that makes adults laugh with their children while getting kids to pay attention to one of my biggest pet peeves: whining. This book is perfect for playful read alouds.
Buy on Amazon
Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs

Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs

By Alan Katz,David Catrow 32 pages Children

Danny Says

One of the best ways I know to engage students of all ages is to create parodies of well-known songs. Your kids will be tickled by Katz’s clever ditties and David Caltrow’s delightful illustrations, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself humming the tunes for the rest of the week. 
Buy on Amazon
My First Christmas

My First Christmas

By Tomie dePaola 14 pages Children

Danny Says

Short and sweet (and I know Tomie dePaola needs no help selling books), this simple pop-up book has always been one of my favorites to capture the true story of Christmas.
Buy on Amazon

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