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November 2007

Hi folks!

I want to insert a little promo here for my southern California readers. All Los Angeles-area Barnes & Noble outlets will be donating 10 percent of all purchases from Friday, November 9th to Thursday, November 15th to The Wonder of Reading, an incredible non-profit responsible for creating one in every three school libraries in Los Angeles. For the past seven years I have been training The Wonder of Reading’s adult volunteers who read to struggling young students, and I can assure you that this is a very noble cause. Please shop at Barnes & Noble and make a difference in the lives of so many struggling and reluctant readers. 

It is pretty amazing that I was a struggling and reluctant reader until my junior year of college. Now, you will rarely see me without a book (or three). I devour good books of all genres, and I enjoyed many great books this past month, including Natalie MacLean’s hilarious Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass (not only do you learn about wine; you develop a thorough appreciation for it that goes beyond the palette); Vince Flynn’s Protect and Defend (if you have not read one of Flynn’s thrillers yet, think of a post-9/11 Tom Clancy); Eric Clapton’s excellent Clapton: The Autobiography (wow – that guy has lived 20 lives, and he comes across as a guy you’d love to call your best friend); and Come on People: On the Path from Victims to Victors by Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint (I always like to read something inspirational).

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 ;-)
Made to Stick

Made to Stick

By Chip Heath & Dan Heath 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

So what if the book may be over 300 pages with all the appendices? If you enjoyed Malcolm Gladwell’s excellent The Tipping Point, you have to read this book. If it were up to me, every teacher, manager and leader would get a copy of this book, which teaches how to get ideas to stick to people’s minds. Quite honestly, I have dog-eared numerous pages and find it to be one of the most useful books I have read in years. You will not regret spending a couple of hours plowing through this excellent book.
Buy on Amazon
A Three Dog Life

A Three Dog Life

By Abigail Thomas 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

When I read a quote on the cover of a book from Stephen King that boasts “the best memoir I’ve ever read,” I am just a tad curious about the contents. This book does not disappoint, as it tells the compelling story of Thomas as she deals with her husband’s brain trauma following a car accident. A truly honest, inspiring and often hilarious account.
Buy on Amazon
Our Dumb World

Our Dumb World

By The Onion 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

Since I despise textbooks, I have been on a fake textbook kick. If you are not familiar with The Onion, you are in for a treat, as the Onion provides readers with all sorts or egregious, inaccurate and hilarious “facts.” Since the news can often be a drag, I recommend you pay attention to the Onion’s news. It may not be true, but it certainly brings a smile to my face (something the nightly news rarely accomplishes).
Buy on Amazon
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

By Kimberly Willis Holt 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

If I were teaching a writing class, I think I would use this book to demonstrate how to write compelling characters. We are all flawed, and that is what makes us all special. Holt sets this story in rural Texas in 1971, where a couple of teens meet “the fattest boy in the world.” Beautiful writing, which is probably why it won a National Book Award winner for fiction
Buy on Amazon
The Tears of the Salamander

The Tears of the Salamander

By Peter Dickinson 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Dickinson is an interesting author. I have read quite a few of his books, and about the only thing I know I can expect is a compelling, unpredictable story. Let’s just say that when a student handed me this one to read, I did not expect a story about a salamander that lives inside a volcano and sheds healing tears while excreting liquid gold. I found myself turning pages pretty quickly, and I think you will, too.
Buy on Amazon
The Ghost and Mrs. Hobbs

The Ghost and Mrs. Hobbs

By Cynthia DeFelice 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I read excerpts from this book to a class of delighted sixth graders (it helped that I turned out the lights and placed a flashlight under my chin). This is the sequel to another book where 11-year-old Allie Nicholas determines she has the ability to see ghosts.
Buy on Amazon
Is That A Dead Dog In Your Locker?

Is That A Dead Dog In Your Locker?

By Todd Strasser 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I admire some authors just for their titles, and I would place this book in that category. Strasser is a wonderful author for boys, as his books are filled with goofiness. Boys are sure to enjoy this first in the “Tardy Boys” series. Very funny.
Buy on Amazon
The Grapes Of Math

The Grapes Of Math

By Greg Tang 40 pages Children

Danny Says

I have been recommending Tang’s wonderful books of math riddles for years, and I could not believe it when somebody pointed out that I had never placed any of his books on my Lazy Reader lists. I greatly apologize for the oversight, as Greg Tang is one of those wonderful authors who gets students who are good at math more interested in reading, and students who are good at reading become more interested in math. I use Greg Tang’s books all the time (you should also check out his wonderful book Math-terpieces).
Buy on Amazon
Yum! Yuck!

Yum! Yuck!

By Linda Sue Park & Julia Durango 36 pages Children

Danny Says

I love books that teach kids a variety of languages, and this one demonstrates how people make different expressions in languages from Danish to Farsi. Little kids love listening to this book read aloud. 
Buy on Amazon
The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker

By Susan Jeffers 40 pages Children

Danny Says

Jeffers is a wonderful illustrator, and this beautiful book would make a great holiday gift (yes, that is just around the corner; haven’t you been to Costco lately?). One of my favorite memories as an elementary school teacher was watching the enchantment on my students’ faces as I introduced them to Tchaikovsky’s wonderful ballet. This is a mandatory purchase.
Buy on Amazon

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