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November 2006

Hi folks! 

I hope you are all doing well. I have had a tough month, as my laptop was stolen from a conference room where I was presenting at in Albany, New York. It was a shame, as it dampened an otherwise wonderful visit (I got to tour New York’s capitol with a couple of delightful teachers from Buffalo, and I was in seventh heaven checking out anything paying homage to one of my heroes, Teddy Roosevelt). Basically, I lost a lot of my personal files, and I have learned that I need to do a better job of backing up files (I lost a lot of my writing, PowerPoint presentations and other irreplaceable files…ugh!). 

Whenever I get down, I turn to positive books to bring me back up. The one thing in life I know that I can control is my own attitude, so I re-read some wonderful reminders like Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking (still one of my favorite books), Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins (one of my favorite speakers) and See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar (another one of my favorite speakers). Just for kicks, I also read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst (just to put things in perspective). I am currently speaking a lot, as I am in Louisiana and Texas this week and head for New Mexico soon (and I am not even running for office). The best part about traveling is reading a lot of great books, as airports provide me with plenty of lines to catch up on my favorites.

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 November, and enjoy your books!

Danny ;-)

The Discomfort Zone

The Discomfort Zone

By Jonathan Franzen 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

Even though this book was written for adults, I would encourage any teenage boy to read this wonderful memoir, as Franzen (a National Book Award winner for The Corrections) details his childhood and does a particularly great job of describing the awkwardness of his adolescence, often to comical effect. This book was very easy and enjoyable to read. 
Buy on Amazon
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

By Michael Braungart,William McDonough 193 pages Adult

Danny Says

Let me preface by saying that I was not excited to read a book dealing with idealistic environmental arguments. Now that I have admitted that, let me say that I think everyone should read this book, especially CEOs and politicians. The authors, an architect and chemist, respectively, respond to environmental crises with refreshingly original thinking. The book reads like a science fiction novel, but by the end I found myself believing that the authors’ ideas could really work. I sound like a character from a B movie, but this book really got me excited about ways to solve various environmental problems.
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The Case of the Roasted Onion

The Case of the Roasted Onion

By Claudia Bishop 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have a confession to make: I love reading short mysteries. I’ve read just about every Agatha Christie, and I treasure reading a book from cover to cover in one sitting. Bishop writes in a very reader-friendly style, and I plan on reading more of her work. This book is a breeze.
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The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

By Sid Jacobson,Ernie Colón 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Wow! I have my friend Nancy Frey to thank for this pick, as she mentioned every student at Hoover H.S. in San Diego seemed to be reading this graphic novel (which, I confess, is a genre that I have not done a good enough job of recommending on past lists). What an AWESOME book. Don’t take my word for it, though. Here is what Stan Lee (the creator of “Spider Man”) has to say: “Never before have I seen a non-fiction book as beautifully and compellingly written and illustrated as The 9/11 Report, A Graphic Adaptation.  I cannot recommend it too highly.  It will surely set the standard for all future works of contemporary history, graphic or otherwise, and should be required reading in every home, school and library."


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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

By Kate DiCamillo 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

While she is best known for writing “Because of Winn Dixie,” DiCamillo has begun to convince me that she may be one of the most gifted writers alive today. If you are a parent, I want you to do two things: read this book to your children, and read it for yourself. This book is touching without being sappy, and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it.
Buy on Amazon
Gossamer

Gossamer

By Lois Lowry 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Speaking of great authors, it was pointed out to me that I have not placed a Lois Lowry book on any of my lists. I apologize for the oversight. While everyone knows and loves Lowry’s compelling Newbery-winning “The Giver,” I’d like to recommend her latest fantasy, which highlights all of Lowry’s writing strengths. You can literally read this book at the bookstore (believe me, I did), and it is a couple of hours well-spent.
Buy on Amazon
Thank You, Sarah

Thank You, Sarah

By Laurie Halse Anderson 40 pages Children

Danny Says

A must read for all ages this November, as this lovely book chronicles the decades-long letter-writing campaign of Sarah Josepha Hale to Congress to create a national Thanksgiving holiday. Illustrator Matt Faulkner creates the funniest and best illustration of Congress that I have ever seen, and the story is a lesson in persistence and passion for us all. By the way, when she wasn’t writing letters to officials, Sarah occupied herself by creating nursery rhymes like “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Buy on Amazon
The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups

By David Wisniewski 48 pages Children

Danny Says

Wisniewski is one of my favorite authors to recommend to reluctant boy readers, as he has written several books that get kids laughing (I enjoy his tale “Sumo Mouse,” too). What is ironic is that he wrote the very different Caldecott winner “Golem.” I am telling you, folks: if you are not reading children’s literature, you are denying yourself access to some of the greatest authors.
Buy on Amazon
An Undone Fairy Tale

An Undone Fairy Tale

By Ian Lendler 32 pages Children

Danny Says

This is one of my favorite books from the last year. Kids love this as a read aloud, as the illustrator cannot paint the pictures as quickly as the reader reads the story. One of my favorite pages includes a picture of a king wearing a donut instead of a crown because the illustrator is rushing. Little kids, especially, get excited to turn pages quickly. Clever and fun.
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Once Upon a Time, the End (Asleep in 60 Seconds)

Once Upon a Time, the End (Asleep in 60 Seconds)

By Geoffrey Kloske 40 pages Children

Danny Says

Every father will be able to relate to this book, as a dad recites his own 60-second versions of bedtime stories so that his child will get to sleep (e.g. Goldilocks and the Two Bears). Unfortunately, kids do not always cooperate, so dad has to tell a lot of quick tales. The results are hilarious.
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