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February 2009

Hi folks!

What a month January was. I’ve been traveling around the country speaking, and I see a nation that is hurting. The planes are half-full, businesspeople complain about fewer contracts and many folks worry about what’s to come. I feel for everybody, as I am right in the middle of it myself. I can assure you, though, that a welcome diversion is a good book. Do yourself a favor and read something uplifting or funny (and listen to Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” or something else that puts a smile on your face). I’d also recommend listening to a good book on tape, as that will make you a calmer driver (I just listened to Walter Issacson’s Benjamin Franklin and found myself driving extra blocks because I was so enthralled). 

In print, I’ve busied myself with my typical mix of biographies, inspirational reads and eclectic fare. The Brothers Popovic (Steven R. Roberts) tells the amazing true story of six Croatian brothers as they make way for America in 1934, in a harrowing and inspirational adventure. Don Endriss writes a timely tale for February, 13 Valentines: When Friday the 13th Collides with Valentine’s Day. And I whipped through Jason Barger’s simple but poignant Step Back from the Baggage Claim, filled with short airport tales of the kindness of strangers. And while the rest of the world dives into the world of teenage vampire romance through Stephanie Meyer, I’d suggest readers young and old check out Brian Meehl’s wonderful (and funny) Suck It Up. 

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 February, and enjoy your books!

Danny ;-)
And Never Stop Dancing: Thirty More True Things You Need to Know Now

And Never Stop Dancing: Thirty More True Things You Need to Know Now

By Gordon Livingston 192 pages Adult

Danny Says

Grab a copy of this book, or anything else by Gordon Livingston, if you want a quick read that makes you smile, think and treat others better. Subtitled “Thirty More True Things You Need to Know Now,” this book is filled with simple wisdoms that rank among the best writing I have seen since Robert Fulghum. How can I not recommend an author who has an uncanny ability to inspire me to be a better human being after every book? I am serious – check out anything by Gordon Livingston.
Buy on Amazon
Zero Mostel Reads a Book

Zero Mostel Reads a Book

By Robert Frank 40 pages Adult

Danny Says

For truly lazy readers, I recommend reading lots of books by photographers. Not only are they quick reads, they tend to leave readers seeing the world from different perspectives. Robert Frank is an interesting photographer, but this book is a hoot, as it highlights one of my favorite comic talents, Zero Mostel, excelling at what he does best: pantomime.
Buy on Amazon
Phaic Tan

Phaic Tan

By Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

From the creators of Molvania, this latest fake travel guide made me laugh and yearn to get back on the road of leisure travel. There is nothing better than encountering foreign cultures and griping about the things we fail to appreciate about our homeland every day.
Buy on Amazon
Child of Dandelions

Child of Dandelions

By Shenaaz Nanji 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have a habit of opting for young adult books that deal with historical events that I know little about. Ashamed by my lack of knowledge of Uganda’s Idi Amin, I grabbed this incredible story of a 15-year-old’s family and how they deal with Amin’s proclamation in the early 1970s to “weed out” all the foreign Indians. The number of “ethnic cleansing” episodes to take place in just the last hundred years disgusts me, and books like this need to be read early and often.
Buy on Amazon
The Truth About Horses, Friends & My Life As a Coward

The Truth About Horses, Friends & My Life As a Coward

By Sarah P. Gibson 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

What a wonderful book with quirky characters. Your students will breeze through this set of tales from a small island town in Maine. A great read aloud for all ages, as the book reminds me a lot of Tom Bodett’s End of the Road. Glin Dibley’s illustrations are an added treat, the way Quentin Blake’s drawings add to Roald Dahl’s books.
Buy on Amazon
Emako Blue

Emako Blue

By Brenda Woods 124 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I very rarely use the word “poignant,” but I think that is the best description of this important inner-city tale. True, I used to teach in inner-city Los Angeles, so I found the book particularly powerful for my “peeps” (translation: my “people”). Woods is such a wonderful storyteller, though, that I think it would be pretty difficult for anyone to finish this book with dry eyes.
Buy on Amazon
Night of the Red Moon

Night of the Red Moon

By Angi Ma Wong 96 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

True story of the Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre of 1871, this compelling and quick read follows 12-year-old Ming and his family as they deal with this shameful incident in American history. Be sure to get plenty of Angie Ma Wong’s books in your library, as she writes stories that delight audiences of all ages.
Buy on Amazon
Ten Most Phenomenal Athletes, The

Ten Most Phenomenal Athletes, The

By David Suchanek 48 pages Children

Danny Says

Let me just say that I LOVE this book, and I know most boys who have any interest in sports (which includes most boys) and many girls will, too. Great facts, great pictures and – best of all – the book does not just judge athletes solely for their merits on the field but looks at their exploits off the field, as well (translation: you won’t find any jerks in these pages). Part of a great series from Scholastic.

Buy on Amazon
Let's Look at Winter

Let's Look at Winter

By Sarah L. Schuette 24 pages Children

Danny Says

Co-titled “Veamos el invierno,” this is what I call a “golden book,” as it is part of a series of books written in English and Spanish (kind of a good idea, considering demographic shifts in our schools).
Buy on Amazon
Flamingo Sunset

Flamingo Sunset

By Jonathan London 33 pages Children

Danny Says

Sometimes I just have to include a book for the illustrations. Yes, Jonathan London’s text presents a moving tribute to the life of flamingoes, but the extraordinary illustrations by Kristina Rodanas make this book a treasure for any library.
Buy on Amazon

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