October 2014

Subtitled “How Analogies Reveal Connections, Spark Innovation and Sell Our Greatest Ideas,” this page-turner was scribed by a former speech writer for President Clinton who unveils the beauty and power of our language. I zipped through this mesmerizing read.

Co-written by four Parisian women, this charming book provides tips of dos and don’ts that can be quirky, funny, sadistic and endearing – sometimes within the same sentence.

This endearing memoir about growing up Cuban in Miami is an easy read by a gifted author/poet.

While no one would argue I have ever had the body of a long distance runner, I have always been one. Even as an offensive lineman in high school, I prided myself on beating all of the backs in our weekly Monday 5k. Inman has written a quick read (complete with huge fonts and lots of pictures) that perfectly captures the insanity and beauty of long distance running.

Yes, the same Jeff Probst who hosts Survivor on television has entered the book business, with this exciting adventure series geared toward upper elementary and middle school boys. Tebbetts helped James Patterson write his middle school bestsellers, and this series is sure to be a hit, too.

Ten-year-old Prairie Evers reminds me a lot of Candide or Pollyanna by her ability to always see the positive in every situation. Very good book.

Besides The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, I’d rate this as probably my favorite Halloween tale. Master storyteller Ray Bradbury exposes us to the eerie Halloween rituals of different cultures. A superb book.

Jasper Rabbit fears his favorite treats are out to get him in this marvelously illustrated Caldecott Honor book by illustrator Peter Brown. Fun, timely reading for the fam.

While everyone knows that monsters are scary, they may not know other interesting facts about monsters in this engaging bedtime read aloud.

Three bad monsters learn the power of gratitude from an even bigger and badder monster in this wonderfully illustrated picture book.