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September 2010

Hi folks!

Did summer slip away that quickly? I feel old sending my own children to school. My kids have been allowing me to read longer chapter books to them lately, and I now understand the infatuation with The Magic Tree House series. They make for very easy and compelling read alouds.  

I’ve managed to scour through my typical eclectic mix of titles. Enjoyed some easy reading from first time authors Celeste Friedman (Single 101: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single) and Robert Bedick (Tomas); tried to motivate myself to get in better shape with Frank Suarez’s The Power of Your Metabolism; delighted in Steve Shreve’s great book for middle-school boys, The Adventures of Benny (which I cannot find on Amazon, but it is available on Barnes & Noble); and also got a kick out of Tim Delaney’s Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld.

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 September, and enjoy your books!

Danny ;-)
Awearness: Inspiring Stories about How to Make a Difference

Awearness: Inspiring Stories about How to Make a Difference

By Kenneth Cole 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

I just began taping the first episodes of my local TV show People Make a Difference, which highlights the positive contributions of people in my community. In this book famous clothing designer Cole has collected 90 stories from various authors that should inspire people from all walks to get out and make the world a better place. I love books like this.
Buy on Amazon
A Stingray Bit My Nipple!: True Stories from Real Travelers

A Stingray Bit My Nipple!: True Stories from Real Travelers

By Erik Torkells,Readers of Budget Travel Magazine 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

As summer winds down I thought it would be fun to include a title for you to delight in others’ misery. Torkells is the editor of Budget Travel magazine, and this collection of anecdotes submitted by readers range from outrageous to  improbable, sometimes dull to mostly hilarious. A good way to end one’s day.
Buy on Amazon
The Reluctant Fundamentalist

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

By Mohsin Hamid 191 pages Adult

Danny Says

One of my goals for my students is that they look at various points of view. I don’t ask them to agree with any points of view; I want them to think critically. This is the perfect book for asking students to re-examine 9/11 from various perspectives. Hamid has created a deeply moving story that is the perfect antidote to the mindless squawking of television politico-shock jocks.
Buy on Amazon
The Knife That Killed Me

The Knife That Killed Me

By Anthony McGowan 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Best book I have read in years for reluctant teen boys. This one gripped me in the same way as S.E. Hinton did with The Outsiders. I am now anxious to read McGowan’s previous young adult novels – he is not to be missed.
Buy on Amazon
Shelter from the Wind

Shelter from the Wind

By Marion Dane Bauer 112 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I forgot all about this short classic. Definitely a hit with girl readers, as it chronicles the story of a 12-year-old girl in search of her real mother. One of the few books with a girl main character that does not totally annoy boys.
Buy on Amazon
Nuts

Nuts

By Kacy Cook 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This was not what I expected. It is funny (like I thought) in parts, but it is largely a story that makes for great classroom discussions on animal welfare and tough decisions. Really good for fifth and sixth graders.
Buy on Amazon
Party

Party

By Tom Leveen 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

There is something that draws teens to books that are written from multiple points of view. I remember actually enjoying Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying when I was in high school simply because it shifted gears from chapter to chapter (and it includes one of the shortest chapters of any book I have ever read). This is Leveen’s first novel, but his involvement in theatre is apparent in the vivid teen characters he creates here.
Buy on Amazon
Some Kind Of Love

Some Kind Of Love

By Traci Dant 34 pages Children

Danny Says

Dant touches me with this book of poems about the members of her family. Absolutely beautiful illustrations by Eric Velasquez. This is the kind of book I buy multiple copies of for students, as it emphasizes love and kindness.
Buy on Amazon
Monster Speller (Monster and Me)

Monster Speller (Monster and Me)

By Robert Marsh 40 pages Children

Danny Says

With fun illustrations courtesy of Tom Percival, this graphic novel series is a hit with the young boys for its style, humor and easy-to-read format.
Buy on Amazon
Home on the Range (Down Girl and Sit Series)

Home on the Range (Down Girl and Sit Series)

By Lucy A. Nolan 64 pages Children

Danny Says

I think I am on an illustrator kick this month, as I selected this month’s children’s books for the illustrations just as much as the stories. Mike Reed’s pictures remind me of Quentin Blake’s work for my favorite Roald Dahl books. Third graders enjoy the short chapters and sometimes longer (more challenging) sentences in this fun tale about the experiences of two dogs (Down Girl and Sit, respectively) as they visit a ranch.
Buy on Amazon

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