Merry Christmas Mom & Dad

 Shirley J.               Juvenile Literature            A little critter tries to do a bunch of christmasy things

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer   24 pages

A little critter ( it is a series of books about this little fellow and his adventures) of indistinguishable origin, he might be a squirrel, or an opossum, or a porcupine, the book doesn't say and you can't really tell from the illustrations so critter is fitting.  He is some kind of critter.  Anyhow, he is little and he really has great intentions of being a good helper, but, intentions only go so far and his patience, endurance and skill are all laking that stick-to-itiveness to follow through and complete the task he has at hand ie, wrapping presents (the tape is too sticky), untangling the Christmas tree lights forget it - is anyone good at that? baking cookies, nope none of his attempts see the completion but his heart is in the right place, right?   Kids will like it and it is geared for the birth to 5 year old set.  It might amuse up to 8 year olds, I think.  Beyond that probably not. 

On the Night You Were Born

 Shirley J.             Juvenile Literature          All the magical things happening when you were born

On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman   32 pages

Sweet book written in poetic loveliness describing all the magical things happening the night of every baby's birth.   Every horn and trumpet in heaven blew, all the geese in the air flew home, polar bears danced, the moon shone till morning because it was so happy and more.  The world and the heavens were delighted at everyone's birth.   Such a precious story/lyrical poem and all about You!  A great read and/or gift.  It is recommended for birth to 3 years of age but I think any one any age will get a kick  out of the idea of all the wonderful things that occurred because of how special your birth was to all being.  

The Gift of Family

 Shirley J.                Adult Fiction          A well-to-do couple can't have kids and adopt a family

The Gift of Family by Mary Monroe   208 pages

A very easy read.   A sweet story.   Eugene and Rosemary Johnson are doing well in their lives.  Rosemary runs a successful nail salon in Beverly Hills, California and Eugene is a successful lawyer with a lustrous list of celebrity clients.   They live a comfortable life, they love each other and enjoy partying with the A-list crowd.   The one thing they have been trying years for is a family with heart wrenching results.  Then Rosemary is told she needs an emergency hysterectomy and their hopes are crushed as now she will be unable to bear children.   They luck into finding the woman that worked for Eugene's parents, the woman who raised him and his brother , who was such an asset to Eugene's family. This woman, Ethyl Perkins has been struggling working 2 jobs for years doing her best to provide for her great-grandchildren who were left with her to raise them when their mother and grandmother died in the mean streets.  Ethyl is approaching 70 years old, the new owner of her building is making her move because his daughter wants Ethyl's apartment.  Ethyl has no extra money for first and last month's rent somewhere else not to mention the security deposit which she is sure the new owner doesn't plan to refund her due to the remarks he's made about her 2 grandsons tearing up the place.  They hadn't but Ethyl saw where this was going.  Meeting up with Eugene and Rosemary and being offered the job of taking care of Rosemary during her recovery from her surgery is a God send.  Little do any of them know, yet, just what a God send it will turn out to be.   Good story.  Very light reading.  I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, children and happy endings.   

The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood

 Shirley J.         Juvenile Non-Fiction              The story of a young Sioux girl wishing for a warm coat

The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve   32 pages

Virginia, her brother and the other Sioux children have to walk through unbearably cold conditions to get to the school on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.  The clothing, coats, shoes and boots the kids wear are received in donations from the church.  Since Virginia's father is the pastor, their family always has to go last when the donations come in.  Her mother tells her other people need it more than we do.  I disagree with that.  Give over your turn if that is your choice but don't force the kids to wait.  Geez, wear ashcloth but let the kids get warm clothes!  Its SOUTH DAKOTA!   But that is the life Virginia and her brother came up in, always getting the last, the leavings.  The other kids usually found something that fit.  Virginia's clothes were always too short and too tight.  She had to try to hold the coat she got together as much as possible because it wouldn't button.   The next time donations came in she saw a lovely shiny grey coat with silver fur.  It was long and had a hood and she knew it would be so warm and it looked big enough to fit her but as always her mother made her wait until everyone else had picked.  She was so excited it was still there until a girl who always treated Virginia and her brother mean came over picked it up, put it on and danced around.  Virginia was heartbroken.  The girl flaunted the coat until one of the boys started teasing her about the smell coming off the coat.  Turns out the smell was really bad and the girl had to get another coat.  Turns out the only other coat was a brown one that Virginia had gotten.  Her mother made her give it to the girl.   I think the mother should have given her own coat to the girl but I wasn't there to protest.   The good news is, the church asked the pastor and his wife if there was anything they and their family would like for Christmas and the mom told them her daughter would love a warm red coat with a hood and the church sent it, along the presents requested by the mother for her son, her husband and herself.   That Christmas was a wonderful memory for Virginia.  I recommend this book to listeners up to 3rd grade.

Merry and Hark

 Shirley J.          Juvenile Literature               The story of Merry an owl and Hark its tree friend

Merry and Hark: A Christmas Story by April Genevieve Tucholke    32 pages    

A different take on the story about the little owl taken in the tree that went up in Rockefeller Center New York.   This story does not mention New York City, nor Rockefeller Center just that the owl's tree, Hark, was cut down and taken to a big city where Merry, the owl, is confused and afraid, but in this story, Merry the owl is returned to her forest and friends.  If only...I recommend this book to listeners through third grade.

Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story

 Shirley J.   Juvenile Literature    The animals on earth hear the song in the stars proclaiming Jesus' birth

Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story by Sally Lloyd-Jones   32 pages

While the earth sleeps the animals make their way to the manger as the stars sing them the song that the savior of the world is about to be born!  While people go about their daily lives, the animals on land, sea and in the air hear the song of the angels shared with shepherds in the field to go to Bethlehem to see the child who is Christ the Lord!  I recommend this one to listeners up to 2nd grade.

Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward

 

Shirley J.               Juvenile Literature                       A new take on the story of the gingerbread man

Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward Hemingway   40 pages

This is a cute story about a gingerbread cookie that a fox decides to eat.  However, the cookie is so tough the fox practically breaks his teeth trying to get a bite and it tastes terrible!  Instead of being mad about it, the fox tries to help the cookie find a way of improving his taste.   Long story short, they discover while he is shaped like and looks like a cookie, it turns out he is actually a christmas ornament!   I recommend this one to listeners up to 2nd grade.               

Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas

 

Shirley J.                           Juvenile Fiction                Disbelief, Naughty List, Family Business, Keys

Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas by Elise Primavera    40 pages

When Sophie's little brother Christopher has a question of faith in Santa Claus hence the family business, he goes on a quest to get on the naughty list to prove whether or not there really is a Santa Claus because he has been bad every year and still got presents, no lump of coal.    Turns out his sister and Aunt had been running interference for him with Santa and that is why he got presents not through ay effort of his own.  A lot happens and like Pinocchio, Christopher falls in with a bad crowd of bad people but luckily his sister, Aunt and Santa have his back.   A good story with teachable moments.  I recommend this one to listeners to young readers.

Auntie Claus

 Shirley J.                        Juvenile Fiction                        Santa's Sister, Hotel Living, Christmas All Year

Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera    40 pages

There is a lady who dresses in red and white, much like Santa's outfit, who eats Christmas cookies all year round and lives in the penthouse of the Bing Cherry Hotel.   She goes on mysterious business trips every fall and doesn't return till after the first of the year.   Curious.   Turns out "Auntie Claus" is Santa's sister and he couldn't do Christmas without her invaluable help every year.  A cute story.  I recommend it for listeners and young readers.

The Truth About Mrs. Claus

 

Shirley J.                             Juvenile Fiction                       Family Tradition and finding your niche

The Truth About Mrs. Claus by Meena Harris    40 pages

Amalia is an elf and she was born into a long line of teddy bear making elves.   The trouble is every female elf in her family tree has something special about the teddy bears they make, shiny, soft, etc. but Amalia just can't seem to find what would make the teddy bears she makes stand out.    She goes to see Mrs. Claus for help with her situation.   A cute story about secrets, about being a legacy and following in your forebears' career path and about finding that special quality that makes you special in your own way.   Good story.   The author says she came from strong female forebears so perhaps there is a story within a story here.      I recommend this book to listeners and young readers.                                         

                                                             

Santa Claus: The Magical World of Father Christmas

 Shirley J.      Juvenile Literature        Everything about Santa, the elves, reindeer, north pole, etc.

Santa Claus: The Magical World of Father Christmas by Rod Green    32 pages    

Everything you could possibly think of about Santa, the North Pole, the elves, Santa's house, his workshop, the reindeer, the village where the elves live not to mention the mailroom where those naughty or nice sortings get done.  So lifelike it is hard to know whether the illustrations are amazingly realistic looking drawings or photographs.   You will learn the tools Santa uses to make it around the world in one night and other secrets will be revealed.   An amazing look into all things Santa Claus.  I recommend this one for listeners on up to 1st grade and of course for family reads and discussions.

Little Owl and the Big Tree: A Christmas Story

 Shirley J.     Juvenile Literature        A true story of the little owl in the tree chosen for Rockefeller Ctr.

Little Owl and the Big Tree: A Christmas Story by Jonah Winter  32 pages

A true and heart wrenching story of a little owl living inside a tree in a forest who finds itself the victim of men coming in and cutting the tree down.   The owl managed to survive the fall of the tree to the ground and was so small that the people cutting down and loading the tree did not even see.   The tree was taken to Rockefeller Center for the Christmas holiday display.   The poor little owl was not discovered until they began decorating the tree.  It had tried to hunt a few times at night, but, was so disoriented by being out of the forest and in the city, the traffic, the noise, the pollution all did a number on the poor dear.   By the time it was taken to a wildlife rescue center it was severely dehydrated and starving.   The staff there nursed it back to health and released it near their location in a forested area.   I hope all alone the poor thing was able to survive.   I recommend this story to listeners on up to 3rd graders.  I think beyond that kids would question the whole scenario.

The Gift of Ramadan

 Shirley J.            Juvenile literature                             Explains Ramadan customs and fasting    

The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard  32 pages

This book tells the story of Sophia, her family and particularly her relationship with her grandmother.  Sophia wants to fast for Ramadan but she is little and it is hard for her to fast from water and food from sunrise to sunset.  Children, the elderly or infirm and pregnant/nursing mothers are not expected to observe the whole fast as are older children and adults.   Ramadan is observed for 30 days with no food or water taken throughout the day.  Families can rise early and have breakfast before the sun comes up and they can have dinner together once the sun goes down but during daylight hours nothing no water and no food must be eaten nor drank.   It is a very informative story of Ramadan and I, as an adult, learned a lot.  I recommend this story to listeners on up to 3rd grade, though, it would be a good family story time read with discussion after.   

Auntie Claus: Home for the holidays

 

Shirley J.                Juvenile Literature                     Sophie Kringle's Aunt (Sister to Chris Kringle)

Usually every year Sophie Kringle's Auntie Claus goes on a business trip to the North Pole to help her brother Santa Claus prepare for his Christmas run.   This year, Sophie has won the coveted role of the Sugar Plum fairy in her school play, so, Auntie Claus decides to move Santa's whole operation to New York, specifically to the Bing Cherry Hotel where Sophie's family and Auntie Claus reside, so everything can still be achieved at the same time and everyone will get to attend Sophie's performance.  A sweet story, I recommend it to babies, listeners on up to 3rd graders.

Everything is Mama

 

Shirley J.               Juvenile Literature                                   A baby penguin calls everything Mama    

Everything is Mama by Jimmy Fallon   32 pages

Jimmy Fallon has written a series of 3 books: Dada, Mama and Baby.  In this book, animals try to teach their babies that there are other words for things and activities but all the babies say is, "Mama!"  No matter what they are looking at or doing - everything is mama.  An adorable book with cute illustrations.  I recommend this one to babies and listeners.  

The Porcelain Maker

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy 384 pages

 

There is a plethora of World War II novels on the bookshelves, and I expect a plethora more to appear as 100 years start to creep up on us. One hundred years since Hitler rose to power, one hundred years since he invaded Poland and the list goes on and on. The way time flies for me anymore, 2045 will be here in a week.

 

Many of the WWII books I have read center on the citizen soldier, the more formal Resistance the concentration camps, etc. with the goal of beating the Germans, Italians and Japanese. But The Porcelain Maker is different. It has a different tone and feel that made this novel. Debut novelist Freethy takes one item from the history books: the porcelain factory that was located near Dachau. The novel also has a structure that I so love: dual narratives.

 

It's 1993. Clara Vogel has never known who her biological father was. Now that her mother, the world-renown artist, Bettina, has passed away, Clara feels she can begin her search. Although she doesn’t hold much hope, she wants to try. Her mother refused to talk about the past, but Clara understands that there is a connection between Bettina’s art and the porcelain factory that I mentioned above. It’s all she has to go on.

 

The other narrative, 1925-1946, is Bettina’s story. A budding, talented artist, Bettina is making a name for herself in a Germany that didn’t know Hitler and his thugs. She falls in love with Max and the two begin to plan a life together. Max is an Austrian Jew who is also gaining respect from his peers around the world.

 

This book is about three voyages. Clara’s journey to learn her father’s name. Bettina’s is about to survive the war and keep her child safe, no matter what it takes. Max’s journey is also to survive the war and find his way back to Bettina so they can live they dreamed.

 

It’s also about faith, perseverance and the juxtaposition of beauty and unimaginable horrors. Readers will know the ultimate outcome of the novel before the end of the first chapter, but the journeys captured my heart. The Porcelain Maker gets 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

My powerful hair

 

Shirley J.                  Children's literature                           The significance of hair to indigenous cultures    My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom   48 pages 

This book tells how important one's hair is to indigenous cultures (native tribes, inuits of the north, etc.).    It speaks of when the American government took tribal children from their parents and put them in orphanages, cut their hair and made them wear the white man's clothes, forced them to speak only the white man's language and learn his ways while being treated as subservient beings.    Tribal people believe their hair hold the memories of the tribe, it is the source of their strength and power.   The first humiliation by the whites was to cut both the boy's and girl's hair then make them forget their native language and the ways of the tribes.   A glorious and eye-opening story about an indomitable spirit that will not be denied.  The book is written for youngsters but is a learning experience for people of every age.  I recommend it to all ages.

Kaizen: The Japanese secret to lasting change: small steps to big goals

 

Shirley J.               Adult Non-Fiction                        Focusing on small areas to achieve big results

Kaizen:The Japanese secret to lasting change: Small steps to Big Goals by Sarah Harvey  272 pages

This book and Kaizen itself allow the reader to do as little to work toward a goal in the beginning as possible.   The point being if you do so little you want to do more.  It is sort of enticing.  It's like tasting something delicious but only just a taste.  It creates the desire for it within you, but, you feel fine because regardless, it was only a taste afterall.  So you have this mountain of a project before you - Kaizen philosophy is, work on it for 5 minutes then walk away.  Whaaaat?   How can you not want to commit to working toward your goal when you only have to put 5 minutes worth of effort into it.  Once you begin it is kind of addicting.  It is so great - no pressure - no tramatic overload of work - you simply begin with one small step. (ie. The journey of 1,000 miles begins with that first single step.)  The reader will find themselves loving this idea and the history behind it?  The American military taught this to the CEO and his crew at Toyota after WWII when helping to rebuild the economy of Japan.   The CEO ran with it and look at Toyota today.  Many other Japanese businesses followed suit when they saw that one didn't need to eat the whole elephant at once but simply one spoonful at a time and that is how you eat an elephant or surpass everyone else in your market to become a leader and transform the industry.   This principle of baby steps to progress can be applied to anything in life whether career, home or self-improvement.  Don't workout for an hour 7 days a week.  Walk 10 steps a day the first week, then increase by 5 more steps the following week.   You will find yourself forming comfortable habits and seeing real accomplishments when there is such simple itty bitty things to do to begin taming anything you want in life.   I really enjoyed this book and learning how you don't have to chastise and belittle yourself for your lack of follow thru.   Just change the focus.  Go for small changes that add up to great accomplishments.   Fabulous!   I recommend this book to elementary school children on up to senior citizens.  It is such a wonderful concept to grasp and it pays off in big ways without extreme effort or guilt.

Just Once

Just Once by Karen Kingsbury 336 pages

 

Until three years ago, Audra Mitchell did not know her grandmother’s deepest secret. Why would she? Members of the Greatest Generation did like to talk about their service in beating the Axis Powers. Three years ago, Audra and her husband, Tom, were re-modeling her grandparents’ home when they found an old wooden box. Inside, they learned Grandma Irvel’s secret” she was a SPY!

 

The story jumps to 2018, as they learn about Irvel’s medical problems. That sets up the plot nicely for it to jump back in time to December 5, 1941. Irvel is in love with her best friend, Hank, although she is dating his brother, Sam.

 

It’s been a little while since I read Just Once, and I don’t remember the sequence of everything that happened. Sam is drafted and heads to Europe. Irvel is recruited by the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, forerunner to today’s CIA). Their worse fear comes true. While they are devastated, they must do what their country asks.

 

Have some tissues handy, this is a tearjerker. Just Once gets 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery

Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery by Sue Anger 276 pages

 

It’s May 1923. Jake Parson and his Labrador retriever, Pilot, have pulled into the port of Beaufort, North Carolina. He is only a week late, and he is eager to see his brother, Wade, who is waiting for him. Upon his arrival, he learns that Wade left a week ago aboard his boat, but never made it to his next port. There are no signs of him in Beaufort except that his dog, Yawg, is there. Jake knows something is wrong; Wade would never leave Yawg behind. Jake begins to do some investigating around town, talking to anyone who knew him.

 

Beneath the surface of Beaufort, things are not what they seem. The idyllic coastal town harbors some big secrets. Jake, a World War I veteran suffering from shellshock, discovers rum-running and smuggling are the biggest trades in the area.

 

As he meets the town’s inhabitants, Jake is drawn to jazz musician Nell Guthrie. Unfortunately, Nell is already engaged, but the two do become good friends. Bottom line is that Jake learns that “local rum runners are piloting small boats in the open ocean to collect illegal booze from ships traveling the “Whiskey Road,” that stretches from Nassau to New York City’s Rum Row.”

 

This novel was more about the booze than it was about finding Wade. He was a secondary plot point. Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery gets 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.